Trump administration partners with pharmacies for wide distribution of COVID-19 vaccine

The federal government has made deals with pharmacies across the country to distribute a coronavirus vaccine for free as soon as it becomes available.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the program would reach 60% of pharmacies in all U.S. states and territories like Puerto Rico, including large chains and independent pharmacies, to reach traditionally underserved areas .

HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, so the new agreement aims to ensure that every American will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Initially, vaccine supplies are expected to be extremely limited. States will distribute them to priority groups such as first responders and frontline health workers.

The announcement comes as the United States experiences a massive increase in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. States reported a record 144,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while more than 1,000 people have died on average per day over the past week.

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There is no COVID-19 vaccine yet, but Pfizer gave the public cause for optimism this week by announcing that results from interim clinical trials have shown its vaccine to be over 90% effective. The company could send the results to the Food and Drug Administration for clearance early next month.

Another leading company, Moderna, is expected to announce results of a similar type of vaccine in the coming days.

HHS said the pharmaceutical partnership is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be authorized or approved and recommended for use in the United States before the end of 2020.

The partnership includes chain stores like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens, drugstores in supermarkets like Kroger and Publix, and those in big box stores like Costco.