Kroger Pharmacies, Clinics To Distribute Coronavirus Vaccines

CINCINNATI, OH — Kroger Health, which is a division of the Kroger company, announced Monday that its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics will provide the coronavirus vaccine nationwide as part of a partnership with the federal government and state health departments as widespread distribution of the vaccine continues into 2021.

Kroger officials said that over the past few months, the company has worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense as well as pharmaceutical companies to prepare for the authorization of the coronavirus vaccines. In recent weeks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized two vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which has been released to hospitals across the United States and has been used to vaccinate frontline workers and healthcare professionals.

Kroger officials said that its supports the phased approach of distribution that currently is allowing for the vaccine to be provided to frontline workers and others that are included in the initial phase of the distribution of the two vaccines. Kroger announced Monday that it will begin to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at two locations in Alaska to provide the vaccine for frontline workers in Anchorage and Juneau. Kroger is also beginning to work with vaccination efforts in other locations as part of the rollout, the company said in a news release.

“Kroger Health is a COVID-19 response leader that has provided our patients, associates and other businesses with diagnostic testing tools and supporting resources since the onset of this public health crisis,” Colleen Lindholz, Kroger Health's president said in the news release. “Kroger Health's experienced health care providers remain committed to helping our patients and associates live healthier lives.

“The size and scale of our health care operation provides us with the unique ability to efficiently facilitate COVID-19 testing and immunize a large portion of the U.S. population, once the authorized vaccines become more widely available."

Kroger also announced on Monday that it has started a vigorous hiring process that will add 1,000 healthcare professionals and pharmacy technicians to assist in the efforts to distribute the vaccine at various Kroger locations around the country. Kroger is also committed to cross-training current employees to assist in the program.

According to the news release, Kroger has conducted more than 250,000 coronavirus tests at its pharmacies and clinics since April. In October, it launched its rapid antibody testing program which informs patients if they have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19.

"As one of the most-accessible health care partners in the U.S., Kroger Health is prepared and ready to play an active role in helping distribute the vaccine in collaboration with public health officials and community partners," Dr. Marc Watkins, Kroger Health's chief medical officer, said in a news release Monday.

"We are strongly encouraging all customers and associates to receive the vaccine to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, and we'll do all we can to ensure they have access as soon as it's available.”