Pharmacies across the country are stocking up on free N95 masks for the general public after the Biden administration announced last week it would be giving out 400 million masks from its Strategic National Stockpile.
N95 masks are the optimal mask to wear for protection against COVID-19, especially the omicron variant.
According to a recent update from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection.
“Well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection,” the CDC said.
Here’s how to get your allotment of three masks per person.
Find your participating pharmacy
The CDC has a list of participating pharmacies in the Federal Pharmacy Retail Program, initially set up for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, that will be giving out masks.
Participating pharmacies in New Jersey include Acme, Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Walmart, and Rite Aid.
Check with your participating pharmacy or store to see if there are masks available
Multiple pharmacies will have different timelines on when the free N95 masks will be distributed to the public.
Here’s a roundup of what is known so far.
CVS
A CVS spokesperson told USA Today on Wednesday free N95 masks will arrive at CVS Pharmacy locations and inside Target stores “as early as Thursday and will continue on a rolling basis as additional supply becomes available.”
CVS added that “signs will be posted to indicate N95 mask availability.”
Walgreens
Walgreens announced that free N95s will be distributed as as early as Friday.
“We expect the first stores to begin offering masks on Friday, Jan. 28 and will continue on a rolling basis in the days and weeks following,” a spokesperson for Walgreens told NBC Chicago in a statement. “Participating stores will have signage indicating mask availability.”
Rite Aid
Rite Aid told NBC’s Today it would be anticipating free N95 masks in some of its locations later this week, with all stores making them available by early February.
Walmart
A spokesperson for Walmart told NBC Chicago the company plans to make N95 masks available in their pharmacies starting late next week.
How to get more than 3 masks
As of now, there are only three free N95 masks being distributed per person.
If you want more than three, you’ll need to buy them. Several merchants specialize in NIOSH-certified N95 mask sales, as well as KN95 masks and KF94 masks, with reasonably fast shipping.
Here are just a few places:
(Note: Amazon does have N95, KN95 and KF94 masks for sale, but be careful about buying counterfeit ones if you choose to shop there.)
Related stories about the omicron variant and COVID-19:
Where to buy N95, KN95, KF94 masks (and how to get some for free)
How to get a COVID booster shot at CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid
The omicron variant symptoms to look out for if you are fully vaccinated
Can I get the omicron variant if I already had COVID?
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