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WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal health officials have reached an agreement with pharmacies across the United States to distribute free coronavirus vaccines after they are approved and made available to the public.
The goal is ultimately to make the COVID-19 vaccine look like an influenza vaccine.
Thursday’s deal with major drugstore chains, grocery market pharmacies, and other chains and networks covers about 3 in 5 pharmacies in all 50 U.S. states and territories such as Puerto Rico. It looks ahead to next spring when as yet unapproved vaccines will begin to be available beyond priority groups such as healthcare workers and nursing home residents.
“The vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a drugstore,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said, calling the agreement “a critical step in ensuring that all Americans have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when available. . “
The announcement comes as the country sees its biggest wave of the pandemic virus and President Donald Trump has put the brakes on the agency’s collaboration with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team. New COVID-19 cases topped 127,000 on Wednesday, an increase of almost 75% from two weeks ago. More than 60,000 Americans are hospitalized and deaths are increasing.
A successful pandemic transfer between the Trump and Biden administrations would be one of the country’s top priorities. He is suspended while Trump refuses to acknowledge Biden’s election victory, even though Biden has already appointed a coronavirus advisory committee to guide his transition team.
The list of pharmacies joining the distribution partnership includes retail chains like Rite Aid and Walgreens, supermarket pharmacies like Albertsons and Publix, and big box stores like Costco and Walmart.
The deal follows a collaboration with CVS and Walgreens to deliver vaccines to nursing homes and administer vaccines.
Optimism about a vaccine has increased since pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced earlier this week preliminary data showed its vaccine to be 90% effective.
Pfizer has continued its own vaccine research and development, while other manufacturers have operated as part of a White House-backed effort called “Operation Warp Speed”, which aims to deliver vaccines as soon as they are approved. .
But Pfizer also has ties to Operation Warp Speed, having signed a contract to deliver 100 million doses of its vaccine, with an option for the government to acquire an additional 500 million doses.
Officials say initial supplies will be limited and distributed to states for allocation to priority groups such as health workers and first responders.
Thursday’s deal with pharmacies is meant to serve as a bridge, making it easier to distribute vaccines as supplies become more available, but before there is enough for the government to pull out and let the market. privately manage things.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines for COVID-19, but officials say they expect one or more will be approved before the end of this year.
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