CVS/pharmacy Completes Emergency Mobile Pharmacy Operations at Houston Astrodome as All Evacuees are Relocated

CVS filled more than 20,000 prescriptions for 7,000 evacuees at the Astrodome while the stadium served as a temporary shelter



WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 16  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CVS/pharmacy (NYSE: CVS) announced today that it has completed its emergency pharmacy operations at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, where it has been filling prescriptions for Hurricane Katrina victims, now that all evacuees have been relocated out of the stadium to other facilities.

Utilizing delivery service from area CVS/pharmacy stores and two mobile pharmacy units on-site at the Astrodome, CVS/pharmacy filled more than 20,000 prescriptions for 7,000 people who took shelter in the Astrodome.  Ninety percent of these prescriptions were filled within the first 72 hours of operation.

CVS/pharmacy also deployed mobile pharmacy units to the Convention Center in Austin, Texas and Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  It will continue to serve the prescription needs of Gulf Coast evacuees at local CVS/pharmacy locations.

CVS/pharmacy is continuing its relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as well as providing vital, uninterrupted pharmacy services in the Gulf Coast.

In addition to the costs associated with CVS/pharmacy's mobile pharmacy deployment and pharmaceutical distribution, CVS/pharmacy and the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust have donated more than $1 million in supplies and money to hurricane victims through the American Red Cross and other local relief organizations.  CVS/pharmacy will continue to donate supplies, including water, ice and personal care items, to residents and evacuees in the affected areas for as long as they are needed.

Several CVS/pharmacy locations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana continue to operate 24 hours a day to accommodate the massive influx of hurricane victims who have relocated from more heavily damaged areas of the state.  In addition, while there are approximately 160 CVS/pharmacy stores located in the impact area, only nine stores remain closed.  No matter where customers regularly have their prescriptions filled, they can visit any CVS/pharmacy location for quick and convenient prescription service.

To further strengthen the ability to serve customers in Gulf Coast stores, CVS has temporarily relocated employee volunteers from many of the company's other markets.  In addition, CVS/pharmacy is currently operating two mobile hiring centers in Kenner, Louisiana and Gulfport, Mississippi.  These centers are interviewing job candidates and helping them find employment at CVS/pharmacy locations in the affected area.

CVS/pharmacy is also directly assisting its thousands of employees who have been impacted by the hurricane.  All CVS/pharmacy employees who were displaced by the storm continue to be paid and receive benefits. The company has also created the CVS Employee Family Assistance Fund to provide financial help for employees in need.  CVS/pharmacy is matching donations from its employees from around the company who make a contribution to assist their colleagues.  CVS/pharmacy employees in the impacted area who are in need of assistance should call the CVS Emergency Support Line at 1-800-770-3810.

"CVS/pharmacy remains deeply concerned for everyone who was affected by Hurricane Katrina.  We have worked exhaustively to ensure that customers continue to have access to pharmacy services, our employees have the support and assistance needed to alleviate their hardship, and the Gulf Coast community has the necessary resources to help recover from this devastating storm.  We will continue to work with our industry peers and local, state and federal officials to do everything we can for this massive relief effort," said Eileen Howard Dunn, Vice President of Community Relations at CVS/pharmacy.

About CVS

CVS is America's largest retail pharmacy, operating more than 5,400 retail and specialty pharmacy stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia. With more than 40 years of dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy industry, CVS is committed to being the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use. CVS has created innovative approaches to serve the healthcare needs of all customers through its CVS/pharmacy stores; its online pharmacy, CVS.com; and its pharmacy benefit management, mail order and specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare. General information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's Web site, at http://investor.cvs.com/, as well as through the pressroom portion of the Company's Web site, at http://www.cvs.com/pressroom.

  CONTACT:
   Mike DeAngelis
   CVS/pharmacy
   401-770-2645


DATASOURCE: CVS/pharmacy



CONTACT: Mike DeAngelis of CVS/pharmacy, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.cvs.com/

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