MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Walgreens locations in Wisconsin will receive doses of coronavirus vaccine directly from the federal government under a program launching this week.
“Step by step we will get there,” said Wisconsin Health Services deputy-secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk during Thursday’s DHS briefing.
State officials say 178 Walgreens locations will receive 17,800 doses of Moderna vaccine to begin with. The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program will expand as more vaccine supply becomes available.
These doses are in addition to what the state already allocates on a weekly basis from the federal government.
“What I can tell you about the number of doses is another 18,000 doses a week is another 18,000 doses towards our target,” said Van Dijk.
The state Department of Health Services says most of the Walgreens locations being provided with vaccine are in underserved areas. The doses being provided to Walgreens will not come out of Wisconsin’s allocation, which is nearly 1.2 million doses as of Tuesday’s weekly update.
However, it’s uncertain how many doses will be allocated each week for the program.
“It is the intention of CDC to go ahead and expand this program both in terms of number of doses they can allocate to doses as well as addition to other pharmacy partners,” said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, DHS division of Public Health Immunization Program Manager.
Vaccinations will be able to be scheduled through Walgreens’ website. The pharmacy chain is also planning to set up a call center for those who do not have access to a computer.
You must be in the phase 1A and 1B groups to receive the vaccine.
Several Walgreens in Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties will be offering the vaccine
For a full list of Wisconsin Walgreens participating click here.
“We looked at the distribution of those sites and figured out which ones can fill the gaps that are existing,” said Schauer.
The goal of the program is to vaccinate underserved areas.
Schauer said, “We want to make sure we have as many outlets and accessibility to areas facing significant challenges where there are disparities.”
Walgreens will also soon be launching a call line for people to schedule their vaccine.
As of Thursday, 11.1% of people in Wisconsin had received at least one dose of vaccine, and 3.4% had completed their two-dose course.
Are you looking for an appointment for a COVID-19 shot? See these tips from Brown County Public Health.
