KCMO, YMCA form vaccine partnership with Walmart

A movement to vaccinate more vulnerable populations of the city will take its next step beginning this weekend through a COVID-19 vaccine partnership between the City of Kansas City, Mo., YMCA of Greater Kansas City and Walmart.

Beginning this weekend, Walmart will be hosting clinics at Kansas City YMCA locations to vaccinate area residents. The clinics will be held each weekend for the next six weeks.

The series of clinics is anticipated to fully vaccinate more than 3,500 eligible Kansas Citians in zip codes noted as areas with low life expectancy, according to a news release from the city.

“These vaccines do not pull from, nor will alter, Kansas City’s weekly vaccine allotment from the State of Missouri,” according to the release, stating that clinics will use a vaccine allotment provided directly to Walmart by the federal government.

“The Kansas City Health Department has identified and has begun notifying eligible Kansas Citians of this opportunity via email and phone call, to ensure those without regular access to internet who need a vaccine will not be skipped over,” 

“We have two goals as we administer vaccines: first, to get as many shots in eligible arms as possible so we can start the process of reopening our country, and second, ensuring equitable vaccine access across the communities we serve,” Walmart’s Executive Vice President of Health & Wellness, Dr. Cheryl Pegus, said. “We will continue finding new ways to increase vaccination access for our customers as we work towards the eventual end of the pandemic.”

According to the release, eligible residents will be contacted by the Kansas City Health Department of their ability to get a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It was also noted that walk-ups will not be accepted.

“As my office and the City continue our work to ensure equitable vaccine distribution, I am proud this vaccine allotment through our partnership with Walmart will be getting to Kansas Citians who need vaccines the most,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said. “The Kansas City Health Department has identified and has begun notifying eligible Kansas Citians of this opportunity via email and phone call, to ensure those without regular access to internet who need a vaccine will not be skipped over.”

Posted 02/24/2021