Walgreens Now Offering Same-Day COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

DEERFIELD, IL — Walgreens announced Monday the Deerfield-based company would be sending multiple mobile clinics to Chicago to provide walk-up, same-day COVID-19 vaccine appointments. From there, the traveling mobile clinics will stop in a number of locations across the country, representatives from Walgreens said in a statement.

Walgreens has already hosted more than 700 vaccination clinics in churches and community centers, but a lack of time and public transportation has been a major factor in communities with lower vaccination rates.

The mobile clinics promise individuals will be able to get a vaccine without scheduling an appointment, which helps address a lack of technology in some underserved areas.

"We understand the important role Walgreens has and will continue to play in removing access barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine," said John Standley, president of Walgreens. "Mobile clinics and the other models we use will allow us to bring vaccines to the heart of the most impacted communities, as well as addressing common barriers like transportation and convenience for those who want to get vaccinated."

While the move will promote equity in the vaccination process, Walgreens is also facing a problem that many other pharmacies and mass vaccination sites are dealing with: more appointments than patients to fill them.

As of last week, about 37 percent of adults in Cook County had been fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. While city officials are pleased with vaccination numbers so far, Dr. Allison Arwady of the Chicago Department of Public Health said in a press conference last week that more people can — and should — be getting vaccinated as the supply rises to meet the dwindling demand.

Crain's Chicago Business reported that Walgreens was responsible for nearly 21 percent of wasted doses in the United States within the early months of vaccine rollout.

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Walgreens also announced all retail locations across the country would offer same-day vaccine appointments beginning on May 5. People will still need to schedule an appointment for the same-day vaccine availability, but walk-ins will be accepted at select stores.

Representatives from Walgreens said more information on mobile clinic schedules and locations will be released in the next few days and that the company is working with community organizations to ensure residents know about the new option.