So honestly, I wasn't really planning on writing a review for this CVS Pharmacy inside the Target at Cerritos Promenade, but I had a good enough experience getting my COVID and flu shots here that I felt it warranted a review that should hopefully bump up the overall rating.
I tried making an appointment online at www.cvs.com for a COVID shot, but it seemed supply was low and demand was high. Time slots were limited, and so was the selection of pharmacies on the webpage. I even tried to see how it looked where my parents live, and it was way worse. Like only one pharmacy location 20 miles away worse. Here, it was better, but not ideal for me. The past 4-5 months have been pretty rough for me. I won't go into the details, but I will mention that my schedule is more limited and unpredictable week by week. Luckily, I was able to schedule an appointment around dinner time close to where I was planning to pick up dinner, so I'm lucky things worked out nicely there.
When I made my appointment, I was asked what vaccines I'd like. At first, I was just going for the COVID shot, but then it also allowed me to choose the flu vaccine. I had already scheduled an appointment elsewhere, but if I could get it here too, why not get both shots in one shot? Or one visit I should say lol. I was a little dubious if getting both in the same visit was a good idea, but I overheard one of the pharmacists saying to another customer it can be done.
After filling out the necessary information online, my appointment was scheduled, and all I had to do was wait. Well I also had to find my COVID vaccine card and watch a video that was texted to me shortly after my appointment was confirmed. I didn't actually get an email confirmation, but rather, a text confirmation, so bear this in mind when scheduling your appointment.
I got another text about 1-2 hours before my scheduled appointment, and the text has a link that you can tap to indicate checking into the pharmacy upon your arrival. As I approached the pharmacy, I tapped the check-in link and stepped in line directly behind the customers that were being serviced by that aforementioned pharmacist. Literally 10-15 seconds later, another pharmacist, Tess, called my name as if she was expecting my presence. Whoa! That was fast! I arrived about 10 minutes early, so I thought I would have had to wait a little longer. Well actually, I did because it took a while for Tess to get everything set up for me. Since I took the last appointment of the day, there were a couple of hiccups. Like there was supposed to be one dose of the COVID vaccine available for me, but they ran out a little early, so she had to open a new pack. Also, after she administered the flu shot, she noticed one of the needles was bent, so she had to get a new one for the COVID shot. That took a while, but I wasn't in a hurry or anything, and like I said, I did arrive 10 minutes early.
Before administering both shots, Tess asked if I'd like both shots on the same arm or different arms. I wasn't sure if that would make a difference in the side effects, but she said it wouldn't, and so I chose both on the same arm, thinking it'd be better to have one strong arm and one weaker arm rather than two weak arms. Honestly, I didn't feel a thing! Well I did after the fact, but I barely felt the needles at all! I asked if I had to wait 15 minutes as instructed in the video, but she mentioned I could just walk around the store, which is what I did. My arm did feel a little weaker, but not a whole lot.
When scheduling your appointment, you are asked for your insurance info, but I think I could have bypassed that since I'd already gotten a shot before at other CVS locations, and so all my information was still in their system. I didn't even have to present my insurance card. I just had to present my COVID vaccination card, and she waited until after the shots before handing it back to me. It's better that way because I think before, the card would be handed back before the shot, enabling unscrupulous plebians to dart off prematurely (seriously?).
Overall, I had a nice little interaction with Tess, and I definitely wouldn't be opposed to getting another shot here, especially if I can pick up lunch or dinner nearby! lol but in all seriousness, I am pretty thankful I was able to get the COVID and flu shots here at a time that was convenient for me. The longer than usual wait did annoy me a little, but not enough to deter me from giving a rating fewer than four stars. While I can't speak for anything regarding prescriptions here, I don't foresee an issue if I were to come here for that. Just note that between 1:30 and 2 PM, the pharmacy will be closed so the pharmacist(s) can take a lunch break. Hey, don't forget, pharmacists are humans too, so they deserve to eat as well! read more