How CVS and other retailers will distribute any excess doses of Covid vaccine

As Covid-19 vaccination efforts begin at major retailers and pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens, what to do with excess vaccine becomes a bigger question.

Both versions of the vaccine should be stored at very low temperatures. After thawing, the vaccine should be administered within a few hours. In addition, the vaccine vials contain multiple doses.

The companies told the Wall Street Journal that they plan to use waiting lists and will consider vaccinating eligible employees when excess supplies become available. The goal is to avoid wasting doses, which continue to be rare.

Beginning Thursday, doses of the vaccine are being sent to thousands of drugstores and grocery stores such as CVS and Walmart in the United States.

Companies schedule appointments based on how much vaccine they receive at each location, but they could end up with too much vaccine if customers don’t show up for an appointment or if a vial of vaccine contains more vaccine than expected.

Currently, only two vaccines, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and the other from Moderna, have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Both types require two doses of shot to be effective.

Retailers need to navigate the various national and local rules on eligibility criteria when managing wait lists and determining what to do with excess doses. In some states, retail workers are eligible to receive the vaccine, while in other states, they are not considered a high priority group unless they are over a certain age or have a condition. specific medical.

A Walmart spokeswoman told the newspaper the retailer has reached out to buyers or skilled workers under state guidelines with the option of getting vaccinated if there is a surplus in supply.

Walmart has been working with state health departments on protocols to avoid waste, a Walmart spokesperson told CNBC. These protocols allow for the administration of open and available excess doses to individuals, including employees, who belong to the eligible groups in order of priority.

A Walgreens spokesperson told CNBC they would consider their employees for the remaining doses and contact state and local jurisdictions for doses beyond.

Meanwhile, CVS pharmacists will keep a list of qualified patients by state and use it to determine who will receive the remaining doses of the vaccine, CVS Health senior vice president Chris Cox told CNBC.

Read the full story in the Wall Street Journal.