People over the age of 65 and others who are eligible can already schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at some local pharmacies in NYC and other areas of the state.
More than 250 stores across 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 five Costco stores in the five counties.
Locations can be found online at vacunasfinder.nyc.gov. Appointments will be available as pharmacies receive doses.
“Pharmacies are a reliable part of our infrastructure, particularly for the elderly who depend on them,” said the city’s health commissioner, Drs. Dave Chokshi, in a statement.
The feds began delivering a first shipment of 26,500 doses directly to pharmacies on Monday, said the NYC Department of Health.
The additional shipment of federal injections increased the city’s supply by 20%, to 158,325 first vaccines. “These additional doses will be a lifesaver for many city residents,” Chokshi commented.
Statewide, both CVS and Walgreens will offer the vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. CVS reported that it received 20,600 doses at approximately 30 stores in the state, albeit to New York City.
Walgreens said it was assigned 18,600 doses per week in New York City and 10,700 in the rest of the state. “This allocation is expected to remain constant over the next month and we will continue to work with the CDCs (Centers for Disease Control) as inventory continues to increase,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“As the program expands and the offer becomes more available, the allocation can be adjusted,” he quoted New York Post.