5 Retailers Administering COVID Booster Shots As Eligibility Is Expected To Be Expanded To All Americans

As the Biden administration is expected to announce that all eligible Americans are recommended to get a booster shot eight months after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, several retailers are already gearing up to administer the additional dose.

Sources for the Associated Press and The Washington Post confirmed the announcement from the Biden administration would be coming as soon as Wednesday. The New York Times first reported the plans from the White House.

CBS News said the boosters would be administered once the vaccines are fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration and signed off by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Full FDA approval of the COVID vaccines is expected to come in mid- to late-September, the news outlet said.

The booster shots would be recommended for people who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, an administration official told CBS News.

More data is being compiled to determine guidance on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and whether or not the vaccines can be safely mixed with a different vaccine make, the news outlet said. However, officials told CBS News that they expect a booster shot would still be needed for the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine.

The expansion of the booster shot to all eligible Americans comes just about a week after the FDA approved a booster shot for immunocompromised individuals, including those with organ transplants, certain types of cancer, or other immunocompromising disorders.

Many retailers are already administering the booster shot to immunocompromised persons, signaling that they will be ready when the rollout to all eligible Americans is approved.

Walmart and Sam’s Club began offering the additional booster dose on Saturday at their stores. The companies accept walk-ins and appointments and require recipients to sign a form to attest that they are immunocompromised.

CVS and Walgreens are also administering booster shots to immunocompromised people. CVS is taking appointments on its website, while Walgreens will accept walk-in appointments. Both retailers began offering booster doses on Friday.

Meijer is providing the booster shots as well. Immunocompromised individuals can make an appointment or walk into a pharmacy location. They will need to complete a questionnaire to report their immunocompromised status.