Seniors 65 and older and others who are eligible can now schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at some local pharmacies in New York and other parts of the state.
More than 250 stores in the city will offer this 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 all five neighborhoods.
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, especially for the elderly who depend on them,” City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said in a statement.
The federations began delivering a first shipment of 26,500 doses directly to pharmacies on Monday, said the New York Department of Health.
The additional transportation of federal injections increased the city’s supply by 20% to 158,325 vaccines. “These additional doses will be a lifeline for many city residents,” Chokshi said.
At the state level, both CVS and Walgreens will provide the vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. CVS reported that it will receive 20,600 doses at about 30 stores across the state, though none in New York City.
Walgreens said 18,600 doses a week were given to him in New York and 10,700 in the rest of the state. “This allocation is expected to remain consistent over the next month and we will continue to work with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) as the inventory continues to grow,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“As the program expands and supply becomes more available, the allocation can be adjusted,” he said. New York Post.