Seniors 65 and older and others who qualify can now schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at some local pharmacies in NYC and other parts of the state.
More than 250 stores in the city will offer that option as part of a federal program, authorities said yesterday. These include 188 sites Walgreens / Duane Reade, 75 Rite Aids and Cinco Tiendas Costco in all five boroughs.
Locations can be found online at vacunasfinder.nyc.gov. Appointments will be available when pharmacies receive doses.
“Pharmacies are a familiar part of our infrastructure, especially for the elderly who depend on them,” said Dr. Dave Chokshi, City Health Commissioner, in a statement.
The FBI began delivering an initial shipment of 26,500 doses directly to pharmacies on Monday. said the NYC Department of Health.
The additional supply of federal injections increased the city’s supply by 20% to 158,325 first-time vaccines. “These extra doses will be a lifesaver for many city dwellers,” Chokshi said.
Statewide, both CVS and Walgreens will offer the vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. CVS reported it will receive 20,600 doses in about 30 stores across the state, but none in New York City.
Walgreens said 18,600 doses a week were assigned to him in New York City and 10,700 in the rest of the state. “This allocation is expected to remain consistent over the next month and we will continue to work with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) as supplies continue to grow,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“As the program expands and offerings become more available, the allocation can be adjusted,” he says New York Post.