Meijer Looking To Expand COVID-19 Vaccinations In Michigan

MICHIGAN — A local grocery store chain has already helped vaccinate more than 20,000 people in Michigan against the coronavirus and now has its sights set on administering up to 25,000 doses to people 65 and older by the end of the week.

Meijer began immunizations about three weeks ago at a limited number of pharmacies in Wayne County before expanding to Berrien, Genesee and Muskegon counties, according to a report Tuesday by The Associated Press.

More than 40 Meijer stores across the state will partake in administering COVID-19 vaccines, with some administering up to 1,200 a day as part of a push to expand access to the vaccine beyond hospitals and local health department, The Associated Press reported.

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Already the retailer has administered more than 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines, Meijer spokesperson Frank Guglielmi told Patch in an email.

"Meijer has been conducting vaccine clinics for the past several weeks in Michigan," Guglielmi said. "We will be doing multiple clinics throughout the state next week."

People can pre-register to be vaccinated at Meijer by going online, text message or by visiting a Meijer pharmacy, Guglielmi said.

Meijer was chosen to receive and administer some of Michigan's allotted vaccines last month. Beginning this week, Rite Aid and small networks of independent pharmacies represented by Cardinal Health networks will also begin receiving COVID-19 vaccines directly.

“We are proud to partner with the federal government and participate in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program," said Chris Savarese, the public relations director with Rite Aid. "During the first phase of this program, federal health authorities will determine the allocation of doses, while state and local jurisdictions will continue to define their own eligibility requirements."

Rite Aid is expected to provide details about Michigan vaccinations later this week, according to The Associated Press.

Residents 65 or older, health care workers and some other essential workers such as teachers are eligible to be vaccinated in Michigan. State officials have said they want 70 percent of people 16 and older vaccinated by the end of the year, something they said could not be achieved unless they were given additional vaccine doses by the federal government.

As of Monday, Michigan had reported 569,417 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 14,905 reported COVID-19 deaths.