Hy-Vee begins administering COVID-19 vaccines in Minnesota
Hy-Vee is the latest retailer to administer doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to residents of long-term care facilities. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based company said that it had vaccinated its first round of long-term care facility staff and residents at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minn.
The nearly 100 recipients were administered Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, and Hy-Vee said that it would return in 28 days to administer the second dose.
“This is a historic moment for us all,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president. “As an early vaccine provider, we are committed to being at the forefront and working hand-in-hand with the CDC and our local governments to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to patients as we enter this first critical phase of vaccine distribution. I want to personally thank all of our dedicated pharmacy professionals for the work they will be doing in the coming months to vaccinate and protect the residents of the many communities we serve.”
Hy-Vee is part of a group of retailers selected earlier this year by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 vaccines. The retailer said that as vaccines become more widely available, it would be offering them at its locations throughout its eight-state region. For now, the company is working with local governments to vaccinate those included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s phase 1a distribution plan. Vaccines are given at no cost to patients.
“Hy-Vee’s eight-state footprint and bandwidth of more than 270 pharmacies gives us the unique opportunity to offer much-needed vaccine accessibility to both urban and rural communities across the Midwest,” said Aaron Wiese, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of business innovation and chief health officer. “Our team of more than 2,700 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are committed to following all CDC guidelines, and we have processes in place to ensure the administration of the vaccines are done so in a safe and efficient manner.”
Currently, Hy-Vee offers COVID-19 molecular PCR lab testing at more than 180 of its pharmacy locations, as well as rapid COVID-19 antigen testing for eligible patients at a minimal cost at 47 pharmacy locations. It also is looking to hire more than 1,000 pharmacy technicians to assist with COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration and is offering bonuses for technicians who assist with rapid antigen tests.