Struggles with COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Continue; When Will Urgent Care Be Tapped to Help?

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccination this week (coinciding with news that the U.S. had passed the 500,000 mortality mark), speakers identified increasing the supply of vaccines; ensuring there are more vaccinators to administer the vaccine; and creating more places for people to get vaccinated as key steps toward widespread protection against the virus. While expressing the idea that retail pharmacies and federally qualified health centers will be essential in getting enough people vaccinated, the panel once again failed to identify the untapped ability of urgent care centers to serve as community vaccination resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is even providing funding to states to deploy thousands of personnel from the National Guard and other bodies to support vaccination campaigns. The Urgent Care Association has been lobbying on behalf of the industry, and has constructed a Coronavirus Vaccine Resources page on its website. It includes information on each state’s rollout program. Visit now to ensure you’re up to date on what’s going on in your area.