Covid-19 vaccines to stress test supermarkets and pharmacies

Not all Americans are eligible for the vaccines and a shortage of shots remains. But vaccines are becoming more widely available in some states, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to make them available in local pharmacies starting next month. There is no charge for receiving the vaccine.

(See the WSJ’s state-by-state guide.)

Vaccination of large sections of the population will largely be done by retail pharmacies, companies like CVS Health Corp.

CVS -0.27%

, Walgreens WBA -2.83%

-Boots Alliance Inc., Walmart Inc.

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and Kroger Co.

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say they are willing to give tens of millions of shots per month.

“We will have to find ways to increase our access points. We must be able to speed up the pace of vaccinating people across the country if we are to make a dent in this, ”said Bart Buxton, co-chair of the Covid-19 vaccine task force for McLaren Health Care Corp. Flint, Mich.-based hospital system partnered with Walgreens to deliver doses to its 26,000 employees as part of the first phase of vaccinations.

Hospitals and health systems, already overwhelmed with the treatment of coronavirus patients, also cannot bear the brunt of vaccinations, Buxton said. “Health systems like McLaren cannot do this alone.”

Pharmacies are well positioned to play a significant role in Covid-19’s vaccination efforts, industry executives say, as they are among the most accessible health care providers for many Americans, including people 65 and older who frequently take medication pick up at local supermarkets or drug stores. These companies say they can also draw on their experience providing injections for flu, shingles and other illnesses.

CVS and Walgreens together have 19,000 stores in the US, while Walmart, Rite RAD -10.46%

Aid Corp., Kroger, and Publix Super Markets Inc. together have another 11,000 locations. Add to that dozens of regional grocers with pharmacy counters.

CVS says it can vaccinate 20 million to 25 million people per month as soon as supplies become available. Walmart said in January it could vaccinate 10 million to 13 million a month.

President Biden said on Monday that his goal of administering 100 million Covid-19 vaccines in his first 100 days in office could rise to 150 million. By Friday, 27.9 million shots had been dropped, of the 49.2 million distributed since mid-December, according to CDC data.

Drugstore chains and pharmacy retailers say they have the manpower and physical space to handle mass vaccinations and have already stepped in to assist local and government officials in some areas. Major chains say they have online scheduling tools that can handle an influx of appointments.

Walgreens has said it plans to hire about 25,000 people in the US to administer the vaccine. It employs 75,000 pharmacists and technicians. CVS, which employs 34,000 pharmacists and 65,000 technicians, declined to say how many workers it hired.

One of the biggest challenges for retailers is dealing with shoppers eager to know when it’s their turn.

“We are doing everything we can to avoid confusion about how to get vaccinated,” said a CFS spokesperson. In addition to long-term care facilities, the drugstore chain offers shots to select groups in Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Puerto Rico. People who are eligible for a vaccination must make an appointment.

“We answer that question dozens, hundreds of times a day,” said Charlie Hartig, CEO of Hartig Drug Stores, a small chain in the Midwest, about whether vaccines are available. “Education takes time.”

Associated Food Stores, a cooperative of more than 400 supermarkets and nearly 40 pharmacies, is working on how its staff will report vaccinations and process claims quickly.

For Associated Food, planning was an area of ​​focus, said Chris Sheard, who oversees the pharmacy operations at the company. The pharmacies largely operate on a walk-in basis and are now asking customers to schedule appointments for Covid-19 vaccines so that it can take care of distance and cleaning.

“People walked upstairs during their lunch break. We can’t do that now, ”said Mr. Sheard. The company is trying to make it known by increasing its marketing and social media efforts and by offering waiting lists where people can sign up.

Others are looking for space to distribute vaccinations and are partnering with organizations to host mass vaccination events. Iowa-based grocer Hy-Vee Inc. is partnering with a local university to set up vaccination stations in a 16,000-square-foot facility, said Aaron Wiese, chief health officer at the company.

“You’re looking at a significantly higher number if you say 65 and older and people with underlying conditions,” said Mr. Wiese. “Add other essential employees, you need more capacity.”

Hy-Vee plans to use greenhouses that are temperature controlled and suitable for larger groups. The retailer has also started testing so-called waiting capsules, where customers can wait after receiving vaccinations, and RVs with exam rooms. Hy-Vee plans to deploy RVs when it goes to factories to immunize the workforce there, Mr. Wiese.

Mass vaccinations require a robust online booking system, said America Davis, communications coordinator for Immunize Nevada, a nonprofit that has set up a website to schedule appointments in the state. Getting the site up and running despite crushing demand was a daunting task.

“Health and local officials are literally working around the clock to make sure we’re doing this right,” she said. “I don’t think anyone expected what the uptake of this vaccine would be.”

Write to Sharon Terlep at [email protected] and Jaewon Kang at [email protected]