Some Western Pa. Sam's Club pharmacies to begin offering covid-19 vaccines

Walmart and Sam’s Club will begin offering covid-19 vaccines at select pharmacies beginning next week.

Four local Sam’s Club stores — located in Hempfield, Monroeville, Trinity Point and West Mifflin — are among participating locations.

Select locations in 22 states are slated to begin administering the vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program beginning late next week, according to a Walmart press release.

“Sam’s Club will receive vaccine allocation in select clubs and will vaccinate both members and nonmembers who are eligible within their jurisdiction,” said Laura Ladd Poff, senior manager for corporate communications.

All appointments are currently booked, Poff said. As pharmacies receive more vaccines, more appointments will open up in their scheduling system.

Members can long in to the online scheduling tool at SamsClub.com/covid. There is a separate page for nonmembers, who will have to create a guest login to secure a spot, Poff said.

Sam’s Club said they will follow state eligibility requirements. With its limited vaccine supply, Pennsylvania is currently prioritizing people 65 and older and others with certain health conditions, along with health care workers and residents in long-term care facilities.

Eligible people can schedule their vaccines online at the Sam’s Club website while doses last. The online scheduling tool will also remind them when they need to return for a second dose, which is necessary for the vaccine to be fully effective.

Those eligible will be able to schedule appointments once vaccines have been received, Poff said.

Sam’s Club is part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, a collaboration between federal and state governments and 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks. As vaccine availability increases, the program will expand to encompass over 40,000 pharmacies.

Through the federal program, select pharmacies will receive limited covid-19 vaccine doses, which will be offered to state-selected priority groups at no cost.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated Sam’s Club at the Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer would offer vaccines.