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Albertsons tops 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations

Supermarket giant more than quadruples vaccines administered over past month

Russell Redman

March 9, 2021

3 Min Read
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In reporting the coronavirus vaccine milestone, Albertsons noted that its immunization capacity is only 15% utilized.Albertsons

Albertsons Cos. cited community partnerships as a key contributor in surpassing the 1 million mark in COVID-19 vaccines administered by its pharmacy teams.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons said Tuesday its 11,000 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are providing coronavirus shots in the areas where its more than 1,700 pharmacies operate. Altogether, the grocer’s pharmacies can administer 150,000 doses daily, but its immunization capacity is currently only 15% utilized, the company said.

“Our pharmacy teams across the country are working diligently in serving our communities during this national effort,” Omer Gajial, senior vice president of pharmacy and health for Albertsons Cos., said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to our federal partners and local jurisdictions in delivering this important milestone.”

As one of 21 national pharmacy partners in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination, Albertsons said it’s now providing vaccines to communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Chicago, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington through the initiative, working in tandem with local jurisdictions. Launched last month by the Biden administration, the program distributes the immunizations directly to pharmacies.

Related:Albertsons Cos.’ Safeway tests automated grocery delivery cart

Albertsons-COVID vaccination-driveup.jpegAlbertsons' COVID vaccination efforts include large-scale events nationwide for hard-to-reach populations and medically underserved communities. (Photo courtesy of Albertsons Cos.)

This week, Albertsons Cos. pharmacies started taking COVID vaccine appointments online from teachers and other education staff after President Joe Biden last week ordered that all states prioritize school personnel and childcare workers for inoculations. Those eligible include educators and staff who work in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Start programs (including teachers, staff and bus drivers), and those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.

Albertsons noted that its pharmacy staff’s efforts also include large-scale vaccination events across the country for hard-to-reach populations and communities with low access to medical care. In the past two weeks, pharmacy staff from Safeway, Albertsons and Haggen stores provided over 100,000 COVID vaccine doses in Washington state alone.

For example, Safeway and Albertsons pharmacists administered more than 25,000 COVID-19 vaccines in a clinic at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Washington, run with the county and National Guard. Safeway and Albertsons clinics in Bellevue, Olympia, and Wenatchee, Wash., also vaccinated more than 1,500 teachers, and more clinics planned in the state this week in Bellevue, Auburn and Olympia will vaccinate 2,500 teachers, Albertsons reported.

Related:Albertsons employees pick favorites in Own Brands Associate Choice Awards

Similarly, pharmacy professionals from Safeway and Albertsons stores provided over 10,000 doses of the vaccine to teachers, support staff and child caregivers at clinics held in Phoenix high school parking lots via a partnership with Maricopa County. Recent clinics for agricultural workers in Fresno and Turlock, Calif., saw Safeway pharmacists vaccinate more than 1,000 and 650 people, respectively, against coronavirus.

In one day, Safeway pharmacists administered COVID-19 immunizations to more than 500 seniors in an underserved community in Pueblo, Colo., and a Jewel-Osco clinic in Bensenville, Ill., vaccinated more 1,500 seniors, with the village board issuing a proclamation recognizing the pharmacists’ efforts. And in Delaware, Albertsons said Acme pharmacists are administering 1,700 doses of the vaccine weekly through an ongoing clinic in partnership with state and local agencies.

“We continue to provide equitable vaccination solutions to underserved and rural customers and will accelerate our services as doses become more widely available,” Gajial added.

Albertsons administered its first COVID-19 vaccine doses, from Pfizer/BioNTech, in mid-December at a clinic in Alaska run by Carrs/Safeway pharmacists. As of early February, when announcing its participation in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, Albertsons had provided over 250,000 vaccinations. The company adds appointments to its online scheduler at albertsons.com/COVID-19 as more supply of the vaccine becomes available. 

Overall, Albertsons operates 2,253 food and drug stores, including 1,727 pharmacies, in 34 states and the District of Columbia under such retail banners as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen and Carrs.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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