Making an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine is difficult enough, but for some people, this is just the first of many challenges in the process. Many people are not lucky enough to have their own car or live in a city where they can reach the time of vaccination on foot or using public transport (if that’s an option they’re comfortable with).
And even if they have friends, family or neighbors who would be more than happy to take them to their appointments under normal circumstances, some may politely (and with great guilt) refuse to do so out of concern for the potential virus transmission.
Now, some people in certain cities who are getting their vaccine at a Walgreens have another option: take a free Uber ride for your appointment. Here’s what you should know about this new policy.
What to know about the program
Although this program was announced on February 9, in December, Uber had committed up to 10 million free or discounted trips to help people get to their vaccination appointments. Now, they have teamed up with Walgreens for part of that, offering people a free ride to Walgreens stores (and their outside clinics) for the COVID vaccine consultation.
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At the moment, a trial version of this program is available in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and El Paso, Texas, but will be implemented in other cities – and is only applicable for appointments at Walgreens. According to a Uber statement, almost 80% of the US population lives less than five miles from a Walgreens pharmacy. (Of course, this does not guarantee that we will all have appointments there, but it is an interesting / terrifying fact that we thought you would like to know.)
Uber and Walgreens are also getting help from National Urban League to help identify the areas with the most significant transport barriers for access to the vaccine.
How to get a free Uber ride for your vaccine appointment
So, who can you take advantage of this offer? It’s very simple: they will let you know. Once you have a confirmed appointment at a Walgreens, if free Uber travel is an option, you too receive an email extending the offer to schedule a tour.
It is still too early and there are many unanswered questions, including whether they are also offering a free Uber ride home from a vaccination appointment at a Walgreens – but I hope this is part of a larger trend to ensure that everyone can be vaccinated.
Lyft recently announced some new tools that people can use to help schedule round trips for their loved ones’ vaccinations, but they are not free.