The attempt to vaccinate the country against a virus which has killed nearly 509,000 Americans is picking up, and Walmart is expanding its role in a federal program that offers the country’s largest retailer offering vaccinations at more than 1,400 pharmacies in 35 states.
The retailer also works with local community leaders and nonprofits to reach more vulnerable populations and holds vaccinations at 43 locations in 18 states, including driveways in Walmart parking lots.
“Cheryl Pegus, Walmart’s executive vice president of health and wellness, said in a statement on Thursday. “We will continue to engage within our communities to find new ways to reach additional customers with our vaccination programs while we work towards the ultimate end of the pandemic.”
Using vaccine provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Walmart plans to continue the immunization process over the next few weeks. It currently plans events in the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Walmart also provides vaccinations using state grants in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can see if a Walmart pharmacy in your area administers the COVID-19 vaccine here, and confirm that you are eligible and plan an appointment for this.)
“Ninety percent of the country lives within ten miles of a Walmart. We are the heart of many rural and underserved communities, and we are committed to providing access to vaccines as groups qualify,” Pegus said in a previous news release said.
Publix expands reach in Florida
In Florida, supermarket chain Publix is expanding its administration of the COVID-19 vaccine by opening its online reservation system at all 730 pharmacies in the Sunshine State store, including the addition of 136 stores in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The appointment starts on Friday, February. 26, the supermarket chain said.
Publix reopened its online vaccination booking system in 20 Florida counties on Wednesday after severe weather in the U.S. disrupted the delivery of vaccine doses last week.
Publix pharmacies also administered the vaccine to people in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. The company’s online booking system can be found here.
Adding the leverage of the CDC and CVS
The CDC this week threw its resources behind a centralized online portal to help people across the country get immunized against COVID-19 – a difficult task for many Americans, as demand so far outweighs supply.
VaccineFinder, run by Boston Children’s Hospital, has so far been used to distribute established vaccines for conditions such as the flu. On Wednesday, the site was expanded to offer more than 20,000 sites in various states offering coronavirus vaccinations, with plans to go nationwide in the coming weeks.
That said, the VaccineFinder website does not allow you to book an appointment. Rather, it takes users to other sites where they can try to schedule an appointment.
In addition to the CDC-backed portal, large pharmacy chains across the country are planning many more vaccinations. CVS Health on Wednesday began making appointments to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in a total of 17 states, with according to the pharmacy chain about 570,000 doses that can be injected into the arms on Thursday.
The pharmacy giant said it is expanding pharmacy locations that provide vaccinations for eligible populations to include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania through a federal program run by the CDC.
CVS will begin vaccinations at pharmacies in 11 states earlier this month: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The White House on February 17 said it doubled the amount of doses delivered to retail pharmacies across the U.S., increasing shipments of the 1 million doses shipped to 6,500 pharmacies last week. It is said that 2 million doses per week will be sent to outlets and will eventually include 40,000 stores nationwide.
CVS “is making significant progress in reaching vulnerable communities, which will continue to be an essential part of our vaccination effort,” Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health, said in a news release on Wednesday.
CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 pharmacies nationwide, said it has the capacity to deliver 20 to 25 million shots a month. Those who want to book an appointment can do so via CVS.com or through the company’s pharmacy program. Those who do not have online access can call customer service at (800) 746-7287.
Walgreens and other speeding shots
The announcement by CVS follows a similar announcement from Walgreens, which said it would begin distributing more than 480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from February 25.
Walgreens listed the following states and jurisdictions where the vaccine would be available: Arizona, Alaska, California, Chicago, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, New York City, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Walgreens has advised suitable individuals to book appointments through its website or by visiting their state health department. The company has more than 9,000 pharmacies across the country.
The federal government began sending COVID-19 vaccines to 21 national pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies earlier this month to speed up distribution. Pharmacies and retailers are also working with states to speed up the immunization effort, and the public is urged to get in line by making an appointment online or by phone.
Where the federal doses go varies according to the state. In Alabama, for example, pharmacies in Walmart stores will receive federal shipments of the vaccine, while CVS and Rite Aid are expected to receive doses in California. Shipments of the vaccine go to Hy-Vee and CPESN USA in Iowa, and to Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies in Washington state. Look at your condition here.
Kroger and Rite Aid
Other major chains involved in the effort include Kroger, the country’s largest grocery chain. It recently unveiled a scheduling tool that he says can handle 250,000 requests daily. Kroger Health now receives and administers vaccines at 1,300 of its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 countries. “If all pharmacies start receiving doses of the vaccine, Kroger Health could administer an average of almost 500,000 vaccinations per week,” reads a news release.
Kroger Pharmacies has a limited amount of vaccine and now offers it in some locations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington . , West Virginia and Wisconsin, according to an update from the company. Consumers can check the availability of appointments here.
Rite Aid receives federal doses at some of the pharmacies in five states and two municipal jurisdictions: California, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the largest city, Philadelphia, and New York, a spokesman said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch said. . “These grants will complement the existing and ongoing grants from the state and the country,” he adds.
The Rite Aid chain, which operates 2,450 stores in 18 states, has limited registration information here for a vaccination.
Costco and Mejer
Costco offers a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines, mostly Moderna, in some locations in New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the warehouse club said in an update to its website.
Albertsons Companies, which operates more than 1,700 pharmacies in its grocery stores in 34 states, also receives direct federal allocations of vaccines. Consumers can check the availability at the food and drug dealer numerous individual banners: ACME, Albertsons, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilion, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons.
At the Albertsons-owned Lucky Pharmacy pharmacy in Salt Lake City, Utah, the COVID-19 vaccine is described as “coming soon.”
He-Vee has 275 stores in eight Midwestern states and offers federal doses of the vaccine at some of the pharmacies in Iowa and South Dakota. Appointments can be made here.
Meijer plans to administer up to 25,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine at clinics in his Michigan stores from the week of Feb. 8. Residents of the state who are 65 years and older can pre-register via the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 supermarkets and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.
Ahold Delhaize and Southwestern Grocers
HEB, which operates more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, offers the vaccine at some pharmacies in Texas. Check here for availability of new appointments.
Ahold Delhaize Enterprises also offers the vaccine. These include Stop & Shop, which operates 250 pharmacies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Hannaford is now planning appointments in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and its Giant Food brand offers scheduling links to customers in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Go to https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for more information.
Southeastern grocery stores began offering 8,100 free Modern COVID-19 vaccine doses to eligible customers at some stores in Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys throughout Florida starting February 11th.
Some of Topco Associates’ various brands also receive federal vaccines. Acme Fresh Market offers vaccinations at its pharmacies in Ohio, although the check was eventually fully booked. Check here for updates.
Big Y offers the vaccine at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wegmans offers shots at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Giant Eagle, Food City and Price Chopper
Topco brand Giant Eagle is offering the vaccine at pharmacies in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, while Brookshire Grocery has launched an online waiting list in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Food City is ready to offer the vaccine, but currently only has it available at pharmacies in Virginia. Price Chopper / Market 32 offers the vaccine at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania – click here to see if you are eligible.
Health Mart – a chain of 5,000 independent pharmacies across the US – is also thanks to federal vaccines. Beaver Health Mart, Pennsylvania, has suspended its online registration and said it will resume demand once the stock is replenished. Residents of Missouri can try to register here on the Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy website.
Health Mart, CPESN USA and a good neighbor
Wayne Drug, a Health Mart pharmacy in Oswego, New York, used social media to keep customers informed.
Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Network, or CPESN USA, participates in the federal program and provides vaccines at locations in Florida and Iowa.
AmerisourceBergen said it was placing orders with the CDC on behalf of its Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate Provider Network – a cooperative of 4,500 independently owned pharmacies – in Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Guam.
In San Joaquin County, California, Save Mart’s Lucky Mart Pharmacy offers appointments here.