SALT LAKE CITY – Starting next week, utahns who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine will be able to roll up their sleeves at selected pharmacies across the hive state.
The federal government will begin sending doses directly to retail pharmacies across the country, and Utah has a contract with two vaccine distribution networks.
Starting on February 11, some Smith’s and Walmart pharmacies will begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Utah immunization program manager Rich Lakin said the Utahns need to be patient with this process, but he is now more optimistic about when the vaccine will be available to everyone.
“When it comes to doses delivered and doses delivered, we’re really kicking the butt now,” said Lakin.
He said Utah now ranks sixth in the country in putting available vaccines in arms. The obstacle remains the availability of vaccines and a large elderly population eager to be vaccinated.
“If we had enough vaccine, we could go much deeper into this campaign,” said Lakin.
Pharmacy vaccination will help. The initial shipment of 1 million doses will go to 6,500 stores across the country.
In Utah, 3,200 doses will be shared between 18 Walmarts, which represents about a third of its stores here. Smith’s will receive 2,500 doses for 25 stores. This is about half of its stores in Utah.
The vaccine quota may increase each week so that Smith’s and Walmart can add additional stores in the future.
“The good thing about pharmacies is that they are highly reliable and have trained health professionals,” said Lakin.
“People may be a little anxious about the vaccine, and it is good for them to go to a familiar place,” said Erin Fox, one of the pharmacy directors at the University of Utah Health.
That makes a difference, she said, especially with underserved populations.
“Taking vaccines to pharmacies really helps to improve vaccine placement, which is what we have to do,” Fox said.
Taking vaccines to pharmacies really helps to improve vaccine placement, which is what we have to do.
– Erin Fox, University of Utah Health
In the past, Lakin said Utah would likely open vaccines for everyone in July. But with two more vaccines almost ready for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration, he thinks Utah could receive 200,000 doses a week sometime in April.
It is possible, he said, that everyone in Utah would be eligible in May.
“This campaign may end in June based on the potential for the amount of vaccine we receive,” he said.
Lakin said it is an assumption based on the best information he has on Wednesday.
Details on which stores and how to apply for the vaccine at Smith’s and Walmart should be available early next week.
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Jed Boal