Federal and government officials are tapping into regional and supermarket-based pharmacies to speed up the administration of Covid-19 vaccines amid slower-than-planned implementation.
Rite Aid Corp., Kroger Co., Stop & Shop Supermarket LLC and other retailers are asked to step in and provide vaccination to frontline workers and other vulnerable people. Although the timeline is weeks earlier than planned, companies say they hope to test and resolve protocols before distributing vaccines among the masses.
“We’re only calling because of the need,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger’s healthcare company. Officials from South Carolina and Georgia made contact with Kroger this week, and the company shot health workers in its stores and sent staff to long-term facilities in Alaska, West Virginia, Texas and Arkansas.
The executives of Kroger and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., two of the largest retailers involved in the vaccination, have expressed frustration over what they say is a slower-than-necessary move due to state and federal action.
Kroger is also exploring ways to hold big events in community centers and stadiums that enable it to vaccinate 600 to 800 people at a time, Ms. Lindholz said. She added that the country’s largest grocery store could immunize a huge number of people if it had more access to vaccinations.