Where can you pick up free N95 masks in Oklahoma County?

Dozens of local pharmacies in Oklahoma County will be among the sites throughout the state distributing about 500,000 free N95 masks through the state Health Department.

Especially in light of the omicron variant, health experts have recommended upgrading to a more protective mask like an N95 or KN95.

More: Most people are still wearing cloth masks. Here's why that's a problem with omicron

Here’s what to know about N95 masks and where you can find free pickup locations:

What to know about N95 masks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge people to wear the most protective mask they can. Cloth masks offer more protection than not wearing a mask at all, but well-fitting surgical masks and KN95 masks are more protective.

Respirator masks like N95s offer the highest level of protection against COVID-19.

They create a tight seal against your face when they fit properly. For more guidance on how to wear an N95, visit the CDC's website.

“With the highly transmissible omicron variant, we know that the quality of the mask someone chooses to wear matters,” said Michael DeRemer, the state Health Department’s director of emergency preparedness and response service. “We want to make sure all Oklahomans have access to the best mask possible to protect themselves and others from this virus, no matter where they live and at no-cost.”

More: COVID mask guide for omicron surge: Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth

Where to pick up masks

As part of the Biden administration's plan to distribute 400 million free N95 masks across the country, people will be able to get up to three per person at locations participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, including locations like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Costco.

Walgreens has a list of stores that have received shipments so far, including a few Oklahoma City locations.

See the full list of federal pharmacy partners here.

As part of the federal program, masks are also going to health centers supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. In Oklahoma, Variety Care in Oklahoma City and the Comanche County Hospital Authority in Lawton will receive masks as part of the first distribution phase.

Separate from the federal distribution of N95s, the Oklahoma Health Department is also distributing masks to local pharmacies in conjunction with the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association. The first mask shipment was sent to some pharmacies last week, and the second was set to be sent Monday to additional pharmacies.

They’ll be available at more than 80 locations in Oklahoma County and hundreds more statewide. For the full list, visit the state Health Department’s website. People looking for masks may want to call ahead to be sure masks are in stock.

Here are the Oklahoma County locations the state Health Department has listed:

• United Pharmacy

• 23rd Street Pharmacy Llc

• Accredo Health Group Inc

• Affordable Pharmacy

• Allcare Pharmacy

• Apg Pharmacy Llc

• Arthritis Pharmacy Solutions

• Asbury Pharmacy

• Barrett Drug Ctr

• Best Life Rx Llc

• Bestyet Healthmart Pharmacy

• Buy for Less Pharmacy

• Buy for Less (Now Pruett's) Pharmacy

• Clinic Pharmacy

• Clydes Pharmacy

• Coram Cvs Spec Infusion Svc

• Costco Pharmacy

• Creative Care Pharmacy Llc

• Crest Rx

• Don Coody Pharmacy

• Don's Health Mart Pharmacy

• Eckerd Connects

• Epic Pharmacy Llc

• Exchange Pharmacy

• Family Medicine Pharmacy

• Flourish Pharmacy

• G C P Pharmacy

• Harrah Pharmacy & Gifts

• Home Care Pharmacy

• Home Care Pharmacy Vital Care

• Hospital Discount Pharmacy

• Hunters Specialty Pharmacy

• Innovative Pharmacy Solutions

• Jim's Community Pharmacy

• Jim's Tower Pharmacy

• Jones Drug Store

• Lakehurst Pharmacy

• Lassiter Drug

• Life Pharmacy

• M M Products

• Mac Goodfellows Ltd

• Mark's Prescription Shop Inc

• Matt's Country Boy Pharmacy

• Medic Pharmacy

• Medicine Cabinet (Closed)

• Metro Pharmacy

• Midwest City Hosp Pharm Llc

• Nichols Hills Drug

• North Rock Community Pharmacy

• Nutritional Food Ctr Inc

• Okcity Rx Llc

• One Point Patient Care

• Oxford Pharmacy Llc

• Parker Prescription Svc Inc

• Patriot Clinics Inc

• Pharmacy Solutions

• Pieta Pharmacy

• Ppm Pharmacy

• Preferred Rx

• Premier Drug

• Ralph's Family Pharmacy

• Remedi Seniorcare

• Rite Care Pharmacy

• Ritescripts Pharmacy

• Rx Medical

• R-x Prescription Shop

• Seikel Discount Pharmacy

• Sequoia Pharmacy

• Sherry's Drug

• Spring Creek Pharmacy

• St Anthony Midtown Pharmacy

• Thrifty Pharmacy No Iii Inc

• Thrifty Pharmacy No Iii Inc

• T-v Discount Drug

• Uptown Grocery Co Pharmacy

• Valu-med Pharmacy

• Western Oaks Pharmacy

• Westminster Family Drug

• Wheeler & Stuckey Pharmacy

• Wilson Pharmacy

• Womens Health Boutique # 15

• Z R C Pharmacy Llc

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where can you pick up free N95 masks in Oklahoma County?