Walmart is preparing to expand its coronavirus vaccination to seven other states, in addition to the two where it currently offers vaccinations, a company spokesperson confirmed to The Hill on Friday.
According to the spokesman, Walmart will provide vaccinations this week and next week in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Texas, as well as Chicago and Puerto Rico.
Vaccines will be made available to specific populations determined by each state and only in a handful of stores from those states, according to Reuters, which first reported on the expansion.
The retail giant is already vaccinating health workers in Arkansas, where its headquarters are located, and in New Mexico.
Walmart also confirmed to Reuters that it is working with Alabama to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.
Scott Harris, the Alabama health officer, announced the deal Thursday Al.com, but didn’t specify a timeline for when it would start. He also said that another deal is underway with a “major pharmacy chain”.
The expansion comes as the US rushes to vaccinate as many people as possible amid a slow vaccination campaign.
So far, according to data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of which about 17.5 million have been administered.
President Biden has set a goal to deliver 100 million coronavirus vaccines in the first 100 days of his presidency and has a national COVID-19 strategy that includes steps to achieve that goal.
The president ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin setting up community vaccination centers, and the CDC is expanding access to vaccines through local pharmacies.
“Walmart is ready to serve our country, our customers and our employees,” the company said in a blog post on Friday. “We appreciate the discussions we have had with both administrations and the ongoing discussions we have with the new Biden administration.”
“We look forward to the day when we can activate our strengths to serve our communities and deliver the vaccine.”
Updated at 10:09 am