Bryan Llenas reports from Riverdale, New York.
Walgreens has administered more than 1 million coronavirus vaccines in the country’s long-term care facilities and to other vulnerable populations, the company said Friday. According to a press release, the pharmacy chain is also on track to complete the first doses of the vaccine in competent nursing homes by Monday.
Walgreens began administering the vaccines on December 21 as part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. The vaccine is not yet available to the general public, but the store has also begun administering it to populations that are considered state and local jurisdictions in certain regions.
At present, the pharmacy chain does not offer the vaccine. People who are eligible to receive the vaccine should make an appointment at the designated Walgreens stores.
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“Thanks to the dedication of tens of thousands of Walgreens pharmacy team members, we were able to provide 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations to those who needed them most in just one month,” said Walgreens president John Standley. ‘This unprecedented effort has not been without challenges, but as federal, state and local jurisdictions continue to advance their priority and distribution plans, we have been able to rapidly expand access to vaccines to our country’s most vulnerable populations and help our communities reach out. . this pandemic. ”
Last week, Stanley welcomed President Biden’s plans to bring more pharmacies online to help distribute vaccines in the United States. Stanley boasts of the numerous stores and ‘trusted community presence’ and says: ‘Walgreens is well positioned to administer COVID-19 vaccines helping our people to emerge from this pandemic. ”
Walgreens said it was about to complete the administration of first doses in competent nursing homes by Monday. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg / Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“While we have vaccinated our most vulnerable population in long-term care facilities since the end of December, our team members in the communities we serve are ready, willing and able to vaccinate in our stores. We look forward to working with the President – choose to expand vaccines in a way that is convenient and fair to all Americans. ”
Initially, former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the vaccine should arrive in pharmacies mid-February to early March, but new director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rochelle Walensky said it was unlikely.
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“You know if we talk to the manufacturers and we’re thinking of supply and eligibility, we’re going to put the vaccine in pharmacies as part of our plan,” he said. Dr. Rochelle Walensky told TODAY on Thursday. “Will it be in every pharmacy in the country by that timeline? I do not think so. As I said early on, I will tell you the truth here – I do not think at the end of February we will get vaccine. In every pharmacy in this land. ‘