Walmart’s off-site clinics plan expansion to aid in COVID-19 vaccinations

Walmart is ramping up its efforts to vaccinate folks in vulnerable communities. 

The retail giant currently is administering vaccines in more than 3,800 stores and Sam’s clubs across 48 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. More than 80% of the shots administered through Walmart pharmacies and its 60-plus dedicated community events were in what the Health Resources & Services Administration designates as the most medically underserved areas of the country.

Walmart said it has partnered with dozens of community organizations to host off-site clinics across the country, and is planning to expand efforts with its mobile wellness fleet.

“Mobile clinics will allow Walmart to expand our reach to deliver additional COVID-19 vaccinations directly to rural and hard to reach communities, where we specifically worked with officials to target our allocation and efforts to increase access,” Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive VP, health & wellness, Walmart, said in a blog on the company’s web site. “To help ensure we’re serving as many populations as possible, we continue to offer vaccinations in our pharmacies, drive-thru events in our parking lots and in offsite locations with community partners.”

This story originally appeared on Chain Store Age.