ANKENY, Iowa — Pharmaceutical companies tasked with vaccinating Iowa's most vulnerable residents against COVID-19 are wrapping up distribution of the first round of the Pfizer vaccine.
CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Community Pharmacy Services are working together to provide the vaccine to residents and staff at nursing and assisted living facilities.
Community Pharmacy Services Chief Operating Officer Mackenzie Farr told Local 5 their team will finish vaccinating the remaining 22 long term care facilities within their charge on Wednesday.
"We have completed 12 clinics for our Iowa partner facilities, both skilled nursing and assisted living facilities," Farr said. "After Wednesday, all of our partner facilities will have their first round of clinics completed."
So far, nearly 1,500 Iowans at 12 facilities near their locations in Ankeny and Davenport.
Farr said the three pharmaceutical companies were given the go-ahead to start vaccinating these facilities on Dec. 28.
A team of vaccine distributors goes to these locations to distribute the vaccine at a rate of 15 to 20 an hour, Farr added. Residents are vaccinated in their rooms while staff are typically vaccinated in a large, open room where social distancing can be ensured.
One of the reasons they are able to distribute the vaccines so quickly: staff at the long-term care facilities conduct the pre-screening process for everyone in advance.
A spokesperson from Walgreens sent Local 5 the following statement on their COVID-19 vaccine efforts:
“On Dec. 21, Walgreens pharmacists began administering COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff at nursing homes and assisted living facilities as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program across 48 states and Washington D.C. We will continue to expand vaccinations to nearly 3 million residents and staff at 35,000 long-term care facilities that have selected Walgreens as their vaccine provider as states finalize their distribution plans and receive vaccine allocations.
Walgreens is working with the CDC and federal and state governments to accelerate the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. As part of the federal government’s vaccine distribution plans, states are responsible for prioritizing populations for initial COVID-19 vaccine administration. We are working closely with state governments to expand vaccine administration as they finalize their prioritization and distribution plans for additional vulnerable populations. With our nationwide footprint, extensive vaccine experience, trusted community presence and pharmacist expertise, we are well-positioned to administer COVID-19 vaccines and help our nation emerge from this pandemic.”
CVS Pharmacy did not immediately respond to requests for comment about how far along they are in vaccinating their designated facilities.