Parson to divert doses from pharmacies to boost vaccine rate

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson plans to divert thousands of unused doses of the coronavirus vaccine from CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to other state-enrolled vaccinators to give a boost to the slower-than-expected process.

Kelli Jones, the Republican governor’s spokeswoman, says the administration already has requested the return of 25,000 doses from CVS and Walgreens, which would then be re-routed to county health departments, medical hospitals and clinics, local pharmacies and other state-approved vaccinators.

CVS and Walgreens were tasked with providing vaccinations at long-term care facilities, and Jones says the new plan won’t affect shots for workers and residents at those coronavirus-ravaged facilities.