Copperas Cove, Gatesville Walmart pharmacies to administer COVID-19 vaccines through new Federal Retail Pharmacy Program starting Feb. 12

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

Walmart pharmacies in Copperas Cove and Gatesville will be begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost on Friday, Feb. 12, as part of a program between the Centers for Disease Control and Walmart.

The company made the announcement on Tuesday that the two local pharmacies are among more than 100 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in Texas that will be administering COVID-19 vaccines through the U.S. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, and are the only ones in Central Texas listed to provide the vaccine.

The vaccines will be administered at no cost and signups will be done online.

Walmart’s scheduler can be found by visiting www.Walmart.com/covidvaccine and Sam’s Club’s scheduler can be found by visiting www.SamsClub.com/covid. 

Along with scheduling the vaccine appointment, the scheduler will provide a digital reminder when it is time to return for the second vaccine. Customers receiving the vaccine are asked to create a Walmart profile, to ensure customers receive the second dose of the vaccine in the timeframe required.

Those securing an appointment should bring their health care insurance card with them.

According to Walmart, some health plans pay for the COVID-19 administration fee through the health benefit and some pay through the pharmacy benefit.

“The Federal government is providing the vaccine at no cost. In accordance with federal guidelines, Walmart, like most other providers, is billing applicable insurers/government plans for the administration of the vaccine only, not the actual vaccine.

“Most commercial health insurance plans and Medicare, and Medicaid must provide coverage of the administration fee for the COVID-19 vaccine. For those without insurance, Walmart will submit for reimbursement for the administration of the vaccine under the Provider Relief Fund. Walmart will not bill you for the vaccine, any portion of the administration fee, or anything else associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Vaccines will be available to those who meet either the Phase 1A or 1B eligibility in Texas.  

Vaccines will be allocated by the states; pharmacies will not have control over which vaccines are in stock. According to Walmart, customers will receive the vaccine that has been allocated and is within the FDA authorization. Moderna is authorized for 18 and older, and Pfizer is authorized for 16 and older. 

More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccine allocations this week, with an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities with limited access to healthcare.

At this point, the initial vaccine supply is limited, but will be expanding, according to Walmart reps.

The company said it took into account population density, customer demographics, infection rates and availability of local healthcare resources among other factors when choosing the participating locations.

Texas joins the states of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming in the most recent vaccine distribution.

Walmart is currently vaccinating in Arkansas, Chicago, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.

For the complete list of stores in each state administering the vaccine under the federal agreement, visit www.corporate.walmart.com/covid-vaccine.