Walmart stores in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas will offer COVID-19 vaccinations starting next week, the dealer said Friday.
The vaccines will be administered at Walmart pharmacies to groups most in need of vaccination by state health officials. In Texas, for example, only health care workers, nursing home residents and staff, people 65 years and older, or people 16 years and older with chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia may be eligible. In New Jersey, those eligible for a vaccine include health care workers, nursing home residents and staff, people 65 and older, first responders, and people 16 and older with chronic illnesses.
Vaccinations will also be available at Walmart locations in Chicago and Puerto Rico.
Walmart has already administered vaccinations in stores in Arkansas as well as in New Mexico, a Walmart spokesman told CBS MoneyWatch. During the expansion, the retailer will offer vaccines seven days a week, a manager said in a blog blog post.
“At full capacity, we expect to be able to deliver 10 to 13 million doses per month when the supply and allocations allow,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president for health and wellness, said.
Walmart has more than 5,000 locations.
“With 150 million people passing through our doors every week, we are in a unique position to reach people where they are already shopping,” she said in the post, adding that the company also hopes for vaccination opportunities at churches, stadiums and to offer youths. centers.
Walmart joins CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid and Walgreens, among retailers offering vaccinations.
Walmart’s move occurs in just as many countries delay in vaccination of residents and President Joe Biden look at accelerate deployment. The pressure to speed things up invites big companies from the private sector to step in, with Amazon, Costco, Microsoft and Starbucks all offer their help to increase the rate of vaccinations.
Last week, Mr. Biden said he plans to increase the spread of vaccinations by tapping the staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and training another 100,000 workers to administer the shots. He promised to vaccinate another 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of his presidency.
In other measures to promote the fight against COVID-19, some states have local National Guard troops to help distribute vaccines.