Selected pharmacies in Oregon will offer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible Oregonians next week under a new distribution program.
The federal government will send about 1 million doses of vaccines directly to 6,500 pharmacies across the country as it begins the first phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, White House officials announced Tuesday. Pharmacies could begin vaccinations as soon as Feb. 11, officials said.
The White House works with 21 national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies representing more than 40,000 pharmacies nationwide, although not all partner pharmacies will receive doses during the first phase of the program.
Oregon’s share of doses goes to Costco, Health Mart Pharmacies and Albertsons Companies, which include both Albertsons and Safeway stores. To date, most vaccines have been administered at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and specialty vaccination centers such as the Oregon Convention Center.
It is not clear how many doses Oregon will receive next week or consistently. The Oregon Health Authority did not respond to requests for information Tuesday or Wednesday.
But Jill McGinnis, a spokeswoman for Albertsons, said the company expects about 11,500 doses to be sent to 115 pharmacies in Albertsons and Safeway in Oregon next week, with about 100 doses going to each location. She said the number of vaccines the company receives could change.
Oregon residents who are currently eligible to receive vaccines under state guidelines will be able to sign up online for appointments by the company once they are vaccinated, McGinnis said.
Healthcare workers, people living in nursing homes and other care facilities, child care providers and teachers are currently eligible to receive vaccines in Oregon. Elderly Oregonians will be eligible to receive vaccinations next week, with those older than 80 eligible on Feb. 8, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Albertsons and Safeway posted information about vaccine availability and enrollment online at www.albertsons.com/COVID-19 and www.safeway.com/COVID-19. Appointment slots are not yet available because the company has not yet allocated the vaccine.
“The demand is huge and appointments are often demanded very quickly, and we ask the public to be patient,” McGinnis said. “As the allocation of doses increases, the opportunity to make an appointment will also increase. The company asks the public to first check the website for the latest information before calling your local store or pharmacy. “
A spokesman for Health Mart Pharmacies said it was not yet clear how many doses of vaccine would be sent to pharmacies in Oregon next week. Health Mart’s two locations are in Eugene and Creswell.
Costco declined to comment on their plans. There are 13 Costco stores across Oregon.
The White House said it was choosing pharmacies to receive the initial doses based on several factors, including their ability to reach populations at greatest risk for serious COVID-19 diseases.
White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters on Tuesday that the federal government considered the first few weeks of the retail pharmacy program a trial run. He said it could be increased over time, with doses eventually being sent to about 40,000 pharmacies nationwide.
– Jamie Goldberg | [email protected] | @jamiebgoldberg