Covid vaccines will be offered at Kroger pharmacies around Michigan in coming months, letting shoppers get shots and shallots at the same spot.
The Cincinnati-based grocery chain is a state health department distribution partner for the two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Vaccinations began two weeks ago for health workers, emergency responders and senior living center residents and employees.
Dozens of Southeast Michigan openings for pharmacy technicians are posted. (Photo: The Kroger Co.)
Next-phase eligibility expands soon to members of the public over age 75 and "frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure," followed by anyone "at high risk of severe illness due to Covid-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the Covid-19 response," according to a state update this week.
Kroger is recruiting nearly 1,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide "to support operations and the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine," a media release says. Openings in Clarkston, Sterling Heights, Livonia, Troy, Westland, Milford, Shelby and Macomb Townships, Roseville, Commerce Township, Milford and other Michigan locations are listed here.
(Photo: DepositPhotos)
The company's 2,200 pharmacies will help "immunize a large portion of the U.S. population, once the authorized vaccines become more widely available," its statement adds.
"Kroger Health is ... ready to play an active role in helping distribute the vaccine in collaboration with public health officials and community partners," said Dr. Marc Watkins, Kroger Health's chief medical officer. ...
"We are strongly encouraging all customers and associates to receive the vaccine to curb the spread of Covid-19 in our communities, and we'll do all we can to ensure they have access as soon as it's available."
Michigan received 231,075 vaccine doses as of last Tuesday, when the latest data was posted, and 37,660 people were vaccinated. Updated totals are expected Monday from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which has a Covid-19 Vaccine Dashboard.
As eligibility widens, vaccinations sites also will include Walmart, Walgreen's, CVS and Rite Aid.
