Walgreens Changes Vaccine Schedule for Pfizer Doses

Following the complaints from customers, Walgreens will begin scheduling Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses three weeks apart. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends the same. Up till now, the US Pharmacy chain has been setting up shots four weeks apart, which is one more week than recommended.

According to the New York Times, the extended schedule made it easier for the pharmacy to schedule appointments. Starting at the end of this week, Walgreens’ vaccine scheduling will begin spacing the shots three weeks apart. The pharmacy will maintain the Moderna vaccines’ period to the recommended four weeks.

Kevin Ban, Chief Medical Officer at Walgreens, had said, “Spacing the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines the same period apart was the easiest way to stand up the process based on our capabilities at the time.” CVS and Rite Aid, the other major pharmacy chains, had complied with the CDC’s guidelines on spacing the vaccines. Pfizer was spaced around 20-23 days apart.

The New York Times reported that no evidence suggests an extra week of gap reduces the vaccine’s efficacy. The CDC has also said that it is alright to space the doses as much as six weeks apart. CDC spokesperson Kate Grusich told the Times that Walgreens’ scheduling system confused the customers. Hence, it was brought to the attention of federal health officials.According to Walgreens, it has administered nearly 8 million coronavirus vaccine shots yet. It expects to administer somewhere between 26 million to 34 million doses by the end of August.