WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The following is attributed to Karen S. Lynch, currently Executive Vice President, CVS Health and President, Aetna, who will become the company’s next President and CEO on February 1:

Karen Lynch

“We agree with President-elect Biden that pharmacies will play a critical role in the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and appreciate his leadership in the pandemic response. CVS Health has more than 90,000 trained health care professionals standing by, with the capacity to administer approximately one million shots per day through our 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations across the country once the federal program is fully activated. This will build on our success in providing vaccines to one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, having administered more than one million shots at long-term care facilities to date.

“We also agree that despite the growing availability of vaccines, wearing a mask, maintaining safe distances and avoiding crowds remain the best ways to slow the spread. These guidelines are based on sound science and will be critical for months to come.”