Walgreens is taking action to address ongoing disruptions to COVID-19 vaccine appointments, according to a company spokesperson. Customers have reported vaccine appointment cancellations at Walgreens locations on social media. The issues are being resolved as Walgreens works closely with its distributor to ensure that updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available nationwide for eligible individuals. The drugstore chain has replenished its vaccine supply and added more appointments to its scheduler. In addition, Walgreens.com and the Walgreens app will provide real-time appointment availability information to patients.
The disruptions were caused by the time it took to move the new vaccines from the manufacturer to the distributor and then to the provider sites. However, as supply becomes available, appointments are being made on a rolling basis. Walgreens emphasized its commitment to ensuring vaccine access for those who want to be immunized and stated that its pharmacy staff is ready to assist patients in navigating the fall and winter respiratory illness season. The company also assured customers that it would provide assistance with rescheduling appointments if they are impacted by unforeseen delays.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated versions of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. These vaccines are formulated to target currently circulating variants like the Omicron variant and provide better protection against severe consequences of COVID-19. While the FDA’s actions make the vaccines available for immunocompromised individuals or those with chronic diseases, it is not necessary for young, healthy people who have had previous vaccination and booster shots. The target group for boosters should be the elderly, obese, and those with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems.
Sources:
– Walgreens spokesperson
– U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
– Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News medical contributor