Vaccines may be coming to a drug store near you

Vaccines may be coming to a drug store near you

 

This week, the federal government is making 1 million vaccines available through local drug stores.   Twenty-one "national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies representing over 40,000 pharmacy locations nationwide" are taking part in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. It’s another step the Biden administration hopes will expand vaccines to more of the public. These pharmacies include about 5,4000 stores including Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Publix pharmacies, and others, starting on Thursday.   "Based on conservative assumptions, pharmacies have the capacity to meet the demand for 100 million vaccine doses in one month when that level of the vaccine supply is available," Steven Anderson, president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, told reporters last month.   Keep in mind that supply is still limited. "In the early phase, many pharmacies across the country will not have vaccine, or may have very limited supply," said Jeff Zients, the White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator. Vaccine is also still limited to priority groups as designated by the states or jurisdictions. Will your pharmacy have doses? The CDC lists participating pharmacies by state here.