In this news, we discuss the Walmart expands vaccinations to bolster U.S. COVID-19 program
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NEW YORK / LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Walmart Inc. is preparing to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in seven other states, as well as Chicago and Puerto Rico, this week and next year, a door said – The company’s story to Reuters, extending beyond the two states where its pharmacists offer vaccines.
The move from the world’s largest retailer comes as US President Joe Biden rushes to speed up a frustratingly slow vaccination campaign that has left around half of the 38 million vaccines in freezers.
This week and next year, Walmart will begin administering vaccines in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas, as well as Chicago and Porto. Rico, the spokesperson said. The shots will only be available for specific populations as decided by each state and only at a handful of stores in each state.
Walmart is already vaccinating healthcare workers in New Mexico and its home state of Arkansas.
Alabama state health official Scott Harris said on Thursday he would partner with Walmart to provide COVID-19 vaccines. Walmart has confirmed the deal, which is part of a federal partnership that Biden announced Thursday it would launch in early February.
Harris said another deal, with a major drugstore chain, will come up soon.
Walgreens, CVS, Kroger and Rite Aid have also stepped up to immunize Americans in what is the largest and most complex vaccination effort in U.S. history. These vaccines are needed to help stop the virus, which has killed more than 400,000 people and infected more than 24 million people in the United States.
Reporting by Melissa Fares in New York and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; edited by Vanessa O’Connell and Jason Neely
Original © Thomson Reuters