Retail Pharmacies Struggle to Meet Demand for COVID-19 Vaccines

Strategic Insights -

As the federal retail pharmacy program for COVID-19 vaccinations continues to rollout, pharmacies are facing challenges in meeting the high demand for vaccines. With millions of doses allocated to 6,500 pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite Aid locations, the program aims to increase access to vaccination sites and practitioners. However, many pharmacies are struggling to secure vaccine supply and ensure equitable access to communities, highlighting the need for more doses to meet the growing demand.

Key Takeaways:

  • The federal retail pharmacy program has allocated 1 million vaccine doses to 6,500 pharmacies, with a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines available to 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks.
  • Pharmacies have reported that their vaccine deliveries in the first week of the rollout arrived on time and were put into arms, but the key to the program's success is knowing what you're going to get and receiving it in the expected timeframe.
  • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that severe winter weather around the United States is expected to lead to widespread delays in COVID-19 vaccine shipments and deliveries in the coming days.
  • The White House has announced plans to increase the supply of vaccine going to pharmacies, with 2 million doses sent to pharmacies this week and more than 40,000 pharmacies eventually expected to be part of the program.
  • Pharmacies such as Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger have administered hundreds of thousands of vaccines, but are struggling to meet demand due to limited supply.
  • Good Neighbor Pharmacy, a network of locally owned independent pharmacies, has reported that its members are thrilled to participate in the program and are administering vaccines quickly, but are also concerned about the limited supply of vaccines.

Statistics:

  • As of Monday, Walgreens had administered more than 3 million vaccines, with an allotment of 180,000 doses per week through the federal program.
  • Albertsons Companies Inc. is using less than 10% of its capacity, with the capability to administer 150,000 doses every day and take on about 90% more supply within its network.
  • Kroger has administered more than 350,000 vaccines across 25 states in eligible populations, with an allotment of 70,000 doses through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
  • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that severe winter weather will impact shipments out of the FedEx facility in Memphis, Tenn., and the UPS facility in Louisville, Ken., which serve as vaccine shipping hubs for multiple states.
  • The White House has announced plans to increase the supply of vaccine going to pharmacies, with 2 million doses sent to pharmacies this week and more than 40,000 pharmacies eventually expected to be part of the program.

Sources:

  • Byline: Ashley Ahn and Jacqueline Howard, CNN
  • American Pharmacists Association
  • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
  • Walgreens
  • Albertsons Companies Inc.
  • Kroger
  • Good Neighbor Pharmacy
  • Meijer Inc.