Some residents in rural communities might soon be heading to the dollar store to pick up a COVID-19 shot.
Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the CDC is in talks with retail giant Dollar General about the possibility of partnering to help expand vaccine access in rural communities where residents might live far from vaccination hubs.
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“We’re exploring a promising collaboration with Dollar General stores, which have locations that include refrigeration capacity within 10 or 15 miles of our rural communities in all but four states,” Walensky said Tuesday at the Health Action Alliance’s virtual National Business Summit, according to Fox Business.
Dollar General acknowledged the “constructive conversations” with the CDC about “ways the company can support the nation’s COVID-19 testing and vaccine efforts” in a Wednesday press release.
“With an expansive and unique real estate footprint, within approximately five miles of approximately 75% of the U.S. population, we believe that we are well-positioned to assist in these efforts,” the company said. “Specific details regarding these efforts will be provided once finalized. We remain ready to help where appropriate.”
Dollar General has more than 16,700 locations nationwide, many of which are in rural areas that don’t have as much access to big-box stores such as Walmart, which has already partnered with the federal government to dole out inoculations.
Walmart said it has nearly 4,000 locations “within one or more of the federally designated medically underserved areas” and will use them to hold vaccination events. The company has said that, at full capacity, it expects to deliver 10 million to 13 million doses per month.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Dollar General and the CDC for comment about the discussions but did not immediately receive responses.
