Press Release

CVS/pharmacy Deploys Additional Pharmacy Resources to Hurricane-Impacted Gulf Coast

CVS Lines Up 30 Mobile Pharmacy Units to be Deployed in the Impacted Area -- First Unit Set Up Today at Houston Astrodome Baton Rouge Stores Converted to Round-the-Clock Service

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept 02, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- CVS/pharmacy announced today that it is continuing to deploy emergency pharmacy resources and general assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. These steps include:

• Staging of up to 30 emergency pharmacy units in impacted areas along the Gulf Coast. The first emergency pharmacy unit will be established today by CVS/pharmacy at the Houston Astrodome. Each emergency pharmacy unit will be fully stocked with prescription drugs and staffed by CVS pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Emergency pharmacy units are being deployed in cooperation with state, federal and local emergency evacuation officials.
• Converting Baton Rouge, Louisiana CVS locations to 24-hour stores to help cope with the influx of refugees that have flowed into Baton Rouge in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As of mid-week, it was reported that approximately 10,000 people have taken refuge in Baton Rouge shelters as a result of devastating hurricane damage in New Orleans.
• Providing ice, water and toiletry items to individuals in impacted areas.
• Donating $504,000 in cash and pharmacy products to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

"We are working with our peers in the retail pharmacy industry and with the pharmaceutical industry to provide comprehensive relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. In our discussions with state, local and federal officials, access to prescription drugs has been identified as a key and immediate component of relief efforts. As America's largest pharmacy, we have the expertise to help relief agencies provide healthcare services to the victims of this disaster. Right now, we are focusing all our resources on providing help to the greatest number of people in the impacted area as quickly as possible," said Eileen Howard Dunn, Vice President of Community Relations at CVS/pharmacy.