'We have worked to meet people where they are'

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has released its COVID-19 One-Year Vaccine report  outlining its all-hands-on-deck approach to fighting the pandemic and keeping communities safe and healthy.

“The past year has been incredibly challenging for all Americans, and we’re proud to have done our part help fight the pandemic and keep our communities’ self and healthy,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president, Health & Wellness at Walmart. “At the heart of our efforts are our communities where we live and work and we have worked to meet people where they are to make an impact during the pandemic.”

The report highlights how Walmart:

• Administered tens of millions of vaccines with 80% being delivered in medically underserved communities as classified by the HRSA
• Initiated partnerships with many local organizations including school districts, community organizations, long term care facilities and more to reach underserved and rural communities and other eligible populations with education and vaccination opportunities
• Created useful tools to make vaccination information and appointments more broadly accessible to all communities, including those that are underserved and particularly vulnerable. A few examples include the Walmart.com and Samsclub.com online scheduler that is available in English and Spanish and CVENT phone scheduling tool that provides access to those without consistent access to internet
• Increased vaccination access with a “Get Out the Vaccine” plan, modeled after “Get Out the Vote” that employed grassroots and community partnerships, corporate partners, internal operations, media and others with the goal of sharing information and helping people make an informed choice about getting vaccinated
• Identified voices with credibility and trust with diverse populations throughout the country, including medical professionals, to share the safety and efficacy of the vaccine

“Through our research we found that Walmart overperformed in communities that are high in vaccine reluctance,” added Joel Finkelstein, chief science officer and cofounder of Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI). “Walmart has been able to use their relationship and a targeted local approach to reach some of these communities who have been harder to reach.”