A man is waiting for pharmacist Joe Borge in Danvers, MA, on February 1, 2021. On the first day of Phase 2 of the launch of COVID-19, people aged 75 and over are vaccinated at Walgreens Pharmacy at 107 High Street. , in Danvers.
Pat Greenhouse | Boston Globe | Getty Images
Walgreens and Uber are teaming up to make it easier to get a Covid-19 vaccine for people who don’t have a car or pharmacy nearby. They announced on Tuesday that Uber will offer free walks to Walgreens stores and clinics for those who book an appointment and live in disadvantaged parts of the country.
The pilot program will begin in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and El Paso. A Walgreens spokeswoman said free rides will be offered starting next week in Atlanta and then expanded to other cities.
The partnership is part of a Uber commitment made in December to provide 10 million free or reduced travel to ensure that transportation does not prevent people from receiving the Covid vaccine. Once a person has a confirmed appointment at Walgreens or a company-run clinic, they will receive an email with an offer to schedule a free trip.
Walgreens, the second largest pharmacy chain in the country, will take on an expanded role in launching the Covid vaccine later this week. Starting Friday, he will give vaccines priority groups, such as older Americans or those with pre-existing medical conditions, at some stores in 15 states and two jurisdictions, Chicago and New York City.
The Biden administration announced last week that it will begin shipping direct dose deliveries to about 6,500 retail stores nationwide. It intends to eventually expand this program to 40,000 pharmacies.
To date, the launch of the vaccine has been slowed by limited supply. It also reflected broader health inequities. Most of the nearly 13 million people who received at least one photo of a Covid vaccine in the first month of distribution were older, white and female, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many vaccine sites have relied on online systems that can be complicated to navigate for older Americans or that are out of reach of people who do not have a reliable cell phone or internet access.
Covid had a disproportionate tax on black Americans. Black Americans died 1.5 times more from Covid than whites, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, which is run by journalists from The Atlantic.
Walgreens and Uber have said they intend to work together in other ways. Uber said it will add in-app features that will make it easier for Uber drivers, suppliers and cargo workers to book an appointment with the vaccine when they are more available. Companies are developing an educational program with the National Urban League to reduce vaccine hesitation.