Walgreens launches mobile clinic, walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations

Walgreens is launching a mobile clinic to bring COVID-19 vaccines to underserved communities in Chicago — no appointments necessary.

And, starting Wednesday, some Walgreens locations also will offer walk-in vaccinations, with no need to book online in advance. Walgreens wouldn’t say which pharmacies will offer walk-in shots.

The mobile clinic will be at Healing Temple Church, 4941 W. Chicago Ave., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following weekend, it will be at Little Village Plaza, 3045 W. 26th St., on May 15 and May 16, though the hours of operation are still being determined.

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Same-day appointments can be scheduled online starting Wednesday.

“We understand the important role Walgreens has and will continue to play in removing access barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine,” John Standley, president of Walgreens, said in a statement. “Mobile clinics and the other models we use will allow us to bring vaccines to the heart of the most impacted communities, as well as addressing common barriers like transportation and convenience for those who want to get vaccinated.”

The announcement comes as Illinois health officials reported 2,049 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases with an additional 28 deaths, raising the state’s death toll to 22,047. The new figures raises the state’s case count to 1,341,777.

There were 16,920 COVID-19 vaccines administered Sunday — the lowest daily number recorded since February.

But health officials said the figure is so low because several pharmacies — like Walgreens, CVS and Albertsons — have not yet reported to the state the number of shots provided over the weekend. That number is expected to grow and will be reflected in statistics released later this week.

In total, the state had given 9,410,057 vaccines as of Sunday; the state has 11,802,395 vaccine doses on hand.

The statewide seven-day positivity rate rose to 4%, up from Sunday’s 3.4%.

As of last night, 1,963 people were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19 — 470 of those were in the ICU and 249 patients were on ventilators.