FRIDAY, January 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Now that federal guidelines have expanded the eligibility of the COVID-19 vaccine to include people over 65 and those of all ages with underlying health problems, pharmacies say who are ready, willing and can start shooting.
There is only one small flaw: supply. But with two vaccines already available and others heading for emergency use authorization, experts say the offer is likely to reach demand soon.
Since January 14, the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Program has used two pharmacy chains per state to offer free COVID-19 vaccines. Pharmacies will be notified if they can participate in this initial launch.
Led by Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine development program, this plan will allow more than 40,000 pharmacies across the country to inject 100 million vaccines in one month. Already signed as partners are CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Costco, Walmart, Rite Aid, Publix and more.
250 million people in the United States are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, and pharmacies can help accelerate the vaccine delivery process slower than expected, said Kathleen Jaeger, senior vice president of pharmaceutical care and defense of the patient at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), a commercial group based in Alexandria, Virginia, that represents pharmacy chains.
“With 40,000 drugstores and one vaccinator per store, it would be very easy to deliver 100 million doses of vaccine in one month,” said Jaeger during a NACDS news conference on Wednesday.
“Many people live less than five miles from a local pharmacy, so it will be easier to distribute vaccines,” she said. “We are ready and our capacity is tremendous.”
Exactly how pharmacies will distribute COVID-19 vaccines is not yet fully understood. They can use an appointment system to avoid long lines and crowding, she said. The government asked 19 pharmaceutical partners to help develop a more accurate game plan.
There has been some concern about allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and pharmacists can deal with that, as they are experienced in giving flu and H1N1 vaccines, she said. “We always watch a patient for 15 minutes after the vaccine,” she noted. If a person has a history of life-threatening allergic reactions, they should be vaccinated under strict medical supervision, she added.