DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has issued the following statement regarding the FDA authorizing Emergency Use Authorization of  Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine:

John Standley

“The announcement from the FDA providing Pfizer with emergency use authorization on its COVID-19 vaccine is a historic milestone and important step toward ending the pandemic. We have the opportunity to turn the tide on a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on our lives and livelihoods. Walgreens is preparing to immediately bring vaccines to high-priority populations, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and federal and state governments. These include long-term care facility residents and staff, as well as health care workers.

We will be collaborating with nearly 35,000 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities nationwide that have selected Walgreens as their vaccine provider. As states finalize their distribution plans, we believe we can begin administration in some long-term care facilities on the date of activation approved by the CDC to help ensure those most vulnerable are among the first to be protected against the virus,” said the company.

“Our purpose – to champion the health and wellbeing of every community in America – has never been more clear or critical,” said John Standley, Walgreens president. “Walgreens pharmacists have been supporting communities every step of the way throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and will play an important role in the administration of vaccines to high-priority groups, as well as the general public, once available,” he added.

“With our nationwide store footprint, extensive vaccine experience and pharmacy team members embedded in communities across the country, we are prepared to expand access to the general population through our more than 9,000 stores once COVID-19 vaccines become available more broadly in 2021. We will continue to work closely with Operation Warp Speed, as well as the CDC, Health and Human Services (HHS) and federal and state governments to ensure the administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the nation as soon as possible,” the company concluded.