Walmart, Sam’s Club offering walk-up COVID-19 vaccines

Walmart and Sam’s Club announced May 4 that walk-up novel coronavirus vaccines are available at its pharmacies across the country, including Ohio.

“Now that supply and eligibility have expanded, it’s even more important for us to reach underserved and vulnerable populations to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Walmart’s executive vice president of health & wellness said in a statement. “Widespread vaccination is the only way we will eventually end the pandemic and help our country reopen, and we don’t want anyone to get left behind as we enter this new chapter in our fight against COVID-19.”

Vaccines are being administered both by walk-up and scheduled appointments, according to a news release. Those who schedule appointments can complete prevaccination paperwork ahead of time if interested.

Appointments can be made at walmart. com/COVIDvaccine and samsclub.com/covid. Walmart Pharmacies are open seven days a week (Sam’s Club pharmacies are closed on Sunday), and are administering the approved J&J, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Those interested in getting vaccinated at Sam’s Club are not required to be members in order to receive the vaccine.

Walmart’s Lake and Geauga county locations are:

• 33752 Vine St., Willowick

• 9303 Mentor Ave., Mentor

• 5600 Emerald Court, Mentor (Sam’s Club)

• 6067 N Ridge Road, Madison Township

• 223 Meadowlands Drive, Chardon

• 15050 Springdale Ave., Middlefield Township

• 7235 Marketplace Drive, Bainbridge Township.

Lake and Geauga counties have some of the highest percentages of residents who have started the vaccination process in Ohio.

As of May 2, Lake County had the second highest percentage of residents who have started the vaccine with 46.4 percent, according to ODH data.

Geauga County was tied for 4th with 45.7 percent. As of that date, 36.4 percent of Lake County residents and 37 percent of Geauga County residents had completed the vaccination process.