Pharmacies add freezers, train staff to handle COVID-19 vaccination drive

Supermarket pharmacies are gearing up to become major providers of COVID-19 vaccinations. Grocery stores say they are well-positioned to provide the vaccines because a large share of the population lives near one of their stores, and their pharmacies regularly offer vaccinations for other illnesses. The stores are now racing to secure the necessary equipment to administer COVID-19 vaccines, once they become available; train staff; and establishing online appointment scheduling services. HHS has signed on numerous grocery and pharmacy chains—including Kroger, Albertsons, and CVS Health—to provide COVID-19 vaccinations once the vaccines are approved by FDA. While many supermarkets offer influenza vaccinations, more coordination with state and federal authorities will be required for COVID-19 vaccines, and many details are still being worked out. K-VA-T Food Stores started its preparations about 3 months ago, when drug companies said work on COVID-19 vaccines was showing promising results. The company—which operates as Food City and operates more than 100 pharmacies in the South—has already purchased 30 medical-grade freezers to store vaccines, devices to monitor freezer temperatures, and containers to store used syringes. Albertsons, which owns Jewel-Osco and Vons, reports that it is coordinating with government agencies and building cold-storage capacity for vaccines that need to be stored at low temperatures. Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize, which owns the Stop & Shop and Giant chains, says it is prepared to set up socially distanced vaccination stations in less-busy parts of its stores, or to remove products and displays to make more space. Some supermarkets say they are hoping to hire more employees, especially pharmacist technicians. Some companies are training existing personnel. SpartanNash Co. is training some pharmacy technicians but notes it does not know how many it should instruct, as it has not yet learned when and how many vaccines it might receive. While the first phase of vaccine distribution will likely focus on health care professionals, essential workers, and individuals with high-risk medical conditions, many grocery pharmacies are expected to step in after that, to provide vaccinations to a broader group. A federal panel is expected to make a decision soon on who should receive priority for COVID-19 vaccination.