Walgreens Administers 1 Million COVID-19 Vaccines

Walgreens has administered more than a million coronavirus vaccines to long-term care facilities nationwide and to other vulnerable populations, the company said on Friday. The drugstore chain is also on track to complete delivery of the first doses of the vaccine to qualified nursing facilities by Monday, according to a press release.

Walgreens had started administering the vaccines on Dec. 21 as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pharmacy for Long-Term Care partnership program. The vaccine is not yet available to the general public, but the store has also started administering it to populations deemed eligible by state and local jurisdictions in some areas.

For the moment, the pharmacy chain does not offer the vaccine without an appointment. People eligible to receive the vaccine should make an appointment at designated Walgreens stores.

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“Thanks to the dedication of tens of thousands of members of the Walgreens pharmacy team, we were able to deliver 1 million COVID-19 vaccines to those who need them most in just one month,” said John Standley, president of Walgreens. “This unprecedented effort has not been without challenges, but as federal, state and local jurisdictions continue to advance their prioritization and distribution plans, we have been able to rapidly expand access to vaccines to most vulnerable populations in our country and to help our communities begin to emerge from this pandemic. “

Stanley last week applauded President Biden’s plans to bring more pharmacies online to help distribute vaccines across the United States. Stanley touted the many stores and the “trusted community presence” and said, “Walgreens is well positioned to administer COVID-19 vaccines and help our nation emerge from this pandemic.

“As we vaccinate our most vulnerable population in long-term care facilities since the end of December, our team members integrated into the communities we serve are ready, willing and able to vaccinate in our stores. We look forward to working with the President. choose to expand vaccines in a manner that is practical and equitable for all Americans. “

Initially, former Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the vaccine should hit pharmacies by mid-February to early March, but the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky , said it was unlikely.

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“You know, as we talk to the manufacturers and think about supply and eligibility, as part of our plan, we’re going to put the vaccine in pharmacies,” Dr Rochelle Walensky said today Thursday. “Will it be in every drugstore across the country by that time, I don’t think. Like I said earlier, I’m going to tell you the truth here – I don’t think that by the end of February we’ll have a vaccine in all. pharmacies in this country. “