UPS and CVS Set to Deliver Medications to Vulnerable Retirement Communities in Florida During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Villages in Florida is one of the United State’s largest retirement communities with more than 135,000 residents. This large and condensed group of people are also some of the most vulnerable to serious health complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 and other diseases. And because they live in close quarters, they are also the most at risk of contracting the disease from community transmission. This community also relies more heavily on outside services such as home healthcare and pharmacies, putting them, and their caretakers, at further risk of contracting the disease.

This is why UPS Flight Forward and CVS Health Corporation, in cooperation with the FAA, have announced that they will be delivering prescription medications via drone to The Villages starting in early May. By providing residents with touchless prescription delivery, they are able to protect the community and those who serve it by enabling physical distancing.

“Now more than ever, it’s important that our customers have access to their prescriptions,” said Jon Roberts, executive vice president and chief operating officer of CVS Health. “In addition to our in-store pickup, free delivery services and drive through pickup, this drone delivery service provides an innovative method to reach some of our customers.”

UPS’ partnership with CVS started last year and they have since completed their first successful drone deliveries of medical prescriptions from their test pharmacy in Cary, North Carolina.

Utilizing Matternet’s M2 drone system, the service will provide The Villages' residents same-day delivery of time-sensitive medications. For the first flights, the M2 will fly less than a half mile to a dedicated spot near the community and, from there, the medications will be delivered by ground vehicle to the resident’s door. The hope is to expand the operations to two additional CVS pharmacies in the area to further help the community.

“Our new drone delivery service will help CVS provide safe and efficient deliveries of medicines to this large retirement community, enabling residents to receive medications without leaving their homes,” said Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer. “UPS is committed to playing its part in fighting the spread of Coronavirus, and this is another way we can support our healthcare customers and individuals with innovative solutions.”

Danielle Gagne

Danielle Gagne was the Editorial Analyst for Commercial UAV News. She continues to be dedicated to providing commercial drone professionals with exclusive insights and content from experts in the field, keeping the industry informed and up to date on everything related to drones.

Danielle originally came to Commercial UAV News from an editorial background in higher education publishing where she edited books on every topic from financial risk management to nanotechnology and morphing wing technology. During that time, she reported and conveyed the business needs and expectations between all points of her organization and the technology team, working closely with IT development. She found these aspects of her previous career invaluable to understanding and conveying the convergence of technology, business, public perception, and regulation in the drone industry as editorial analyst.