When To Expect COVID-19 Vaccine To Be In US Pharmacies

It was announced on Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to pharmacies around the country in order to vaccinate more Americans faster.

The Biden administration’s direct shipments of one million doses to 6,500 stores will start next week on Feb. 11.

"Millions of Americans turn to their local pharmacies every day for their medicines, flu shots, and much more. And pharmacies are readily accessible in most communities, with most Americans living within five miles of a pharmacy," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said in a briefing.

The Trump administration also had this pharmacy idea in mind when making a distribution plan. In Maryland, some pharmacies have already begun giving the shots, according to CNN.

While this is just a trial period, more pharmacies will have doses available as time goes on and production amps up between Moderna and Pfizer.

A few pharmacy chains that’ll receive doses in this first phase include Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid.

The U.S. has been behind on hitting its 100 million COVID-19 dose distribution goal that is set for March 2021. There have been distribution problems between health providers and the vaccine companies along with shortages of the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky doesn’t believe every pharmacy will have vaccines available this month due to these shortage issues.

In order to help this issue, the Biden administration has also increased distribution to states by 5% each week.

Nearly 28 million vaccine doses in the U.S. have been administered, the CDC reported.