According to Dr. Tom Van Gilder, Chief Medical Officer for Walmart, pharmacists and assistants at Walmart and Sam's Club stores in New Mexico have received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The decision to protect healthcare personnel in stores is consistent with CDC recommendations for this Phase 1a priority category. The program will eventually involve as many as 5,000 Walmart and Sam's employees. Albertsons has initiated a similar program for their various banners initiating vaccination in Alaska.
It is significant that the Moderna vaccine was used as this product has less stringent cold chain requirements compared to the Pfizer vaccine that requires storage in ultra-low temperature coolers and transport at -98F using dry ice and insulated containers. The relative cost and logistic complications associated with the Pfizer vaccine will limit use of this product especially in rural areas and for small groups of recipients.
It is noteworthy that Germany has adopted the principle of bringing the recipients to the vaccine in locations such as conference centers to expedite administration in addition to establishing numerous designated vaccination centers.
Since the Pfizer vaccine became available on Monday 14th December and the Moderna product a week later two million priority category 1a people have received their first vaccine dose compared to a predicted 20 million. The doses administered to date were in the ‘easy’ category as they were in hospitals or long-term care facilities. It is evident that the “last mile” from distribution center to arm will be difficult. There will have to be a learning curve as different states modify the CDC suggested priority categories and share experience, hopefully with Federal assistance extended by the Task Force appointed by the incoming Administration.