Coronavirus Vaccines Coming To MA Grocery Stores: Report

Boston MA

23 January, 2021

12:50 PM

Description

Coronavirus vaccines are coming to dozens of Massachusetts grocery stores starting next week as part of a distribution partnership, according to reports. The program includes approximately 40 supermarket pharmacies across the state. According to NBC Boston, the state partnered with Wegmans, Big Y, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop and Hannaford, starting Monday. The program was first announced as part of Operation Warp Speed in November. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partnered with supermarket chains, both large and small, across the country to help get vaccines into communities. Alex Azar, the Trump Adminstration's Secretary of Health and Human Services said at the time that they were "leveraging the existing private sector infrastructure to get safe and effective vaccines ... into communities and into arms as quickly as possible with no out-of-pocket costs." "The vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and our new agreement with pharmacy partners across America is a critical step toward making sure all Americans have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when they are available," Azar said. Earlier this week, nearly 2,000 vaccine doses were spoiled at a VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain due to a freezer malfunction.