Utah Dept. Of Health To Get 28K Vaccine Doses From CVS, Walgreens
Jan 26, 2021, 3:39 PM | Updated: 5:37 pm
FILE PHOTO (KSL-TV)
(KSL-TV)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Health announced the transfer of 28,275 dosses of COVID-19 vaccine from CVS and Walgreens will now go to other providers in the state.
The doses were issued to the drug store chains as part of a partnership with the federal government for vaccination clinics at long-term care facilities.
“Our top priority is to get as many vaccines into the arms of Utahns as quickly as possible,” Gov. Spencer Cox said. “We’re grateful to our partners Walgreens and CVS as well as the CDC for their help in meeting this goal.”
The Utah Department of Health issued the following statement on transfer of #COVID19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/BnuQRwwAdH
— Utah Dept. of Health (@UtahDepOfHealth) January 26, 2021
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control have approved the transfer.
“An initial shipment of 8,775 of these doses arrived in Utah this week. The remaining 19,500 doses will be available to be ordered this week and will be shipped next week,” state health officials said.
CVS and Walgreens still have enough vaccine doses on hand for scheduled vaccination clinics at the long-term care facilities in Utah, the release said.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration will buy a combined 200 million additional doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna, which could make enough vaccine available to fully inoculate nearly every American by the fall.
“We are excited by the Biden administration plan to purchase 200 million doses of vaccines, 100 million doses each of Pfizer and Moderna. This is exactly what our state has been asking for. More doses mean more Utahns are protected from the ravages of COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and are effective,” Cox said. “The president also announced a plan to use the Defense Production Act to ramp up the production of vaccines and the ancillary supplies, such as syringes, vials, gloves and more.”
“We agree with President Biden that masking up will save lives,” Cox added. “He has asked all Americans to mask up for the next 100 days. This fits with Utah’s statewide mask mandate. If you are around others, please wear a mask.”
