Walmart begins hosting invite-only vaccine clinics
NORFOLK — Walmart, one of several pharmacy chains receiving coronavirus vaccines from a federal program, began running community-based clinics this week.
Two of the four sites were in South Hampton Roads: one at the Southside STEM Academy at Campostella in Norfolk, and another at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach. The company also was vaccinating in Chesterfield and Roanoke, state health officials said on a call with reporters Friday.
The chain isn’t giving shots at its stores or taking walk-in appointments at its clinic sites.
There was no public announcement the retailer was offering vaccines locally. Residents who got shots were invited to the closed events from the state’s pre-registration system, and news media learned of the clinics after they had started.
Virginia’s new vaccine call center staff helped Walmart schedule appointments by calling eligible seniors on the waitlist.
It wasn’t clear how the locations were selected and whether there would be future clinics here.
Walmart representatives declined to discuss their vaccinations with The Virginian-Pilot on Saturday. A steady stream of people filtered in and out of the STEM Academy but the company did not let a reporter beyond the lobby.
People were asked screening questions — such as if they’ve been recently exposed to the virus and if they were experiencing any symptoms — before having their temperature taken and ushered into the school.
Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine coordinator, said each Walmart running a clinic this week received about 1,200 Pfizer doses that it would administer over three days. He expected each would put about 400 shots in arms per day.
The chain’s clinics “maxed out every day so far,” Avula said, “So we’re super excited about Walmart as a partner.”
One of those who got a shot Saturday at the Norfolk clinic was Maureen Murphy. The 65-year-old Norfolk resident said she got a call Friday afternoon from the state’s 877-VAX-IN-VA number, which she had saved in her phone. She said it was a “pleasant experience” and was in and out in 45 minutes.
“I can’t wait for that second shot,” Murphy said. She hopes her husband is able to get one soon. They’ve been mostly quarantining at home during the pandemic but she said she wants to get out more once they’re fully vaccinated.
Another Norfolk resident, Kenneth Mayer, 72, described it as a smooth process with no lines. He and Murphy received Pfizer doses and were scheduled for their second shot at Scope in Norfolk in two weeks.
Mayer called it one tool in the fight against the deadly disease — he still plans to wear his mask and practice social distancing. His wife was scheduled for her first dose later Saturday.
State public health officials don’t know yet how long Walmart will hold the rotating community-based clinics before transitioning to providing shots in their stores.
A total of 52,000 doses are now being sent directly to pharmacies each week through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, half going to CVS and the rest divided among several other chains and independent stores. That group includes Walmart, Walgreens, Safeway, Kroger, Food Lion, Giant and Food City.
Virginians can get i n the state’s centralized pre-registration system online at vaccinate. virginia.gov. There is also a hotline for questions, at 877-829-4682 or 877-VAX-IN-VA.