Sikeston Walmart to begin giving COVID vaccine

As part of a new federal program, Walmart pharmacy in Sikeston will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning Friday, the Walmart pharmacy in Sikeston as well as both Walmart pharmacies and Sam’s Club in Cape Girardeau, will begin administering the vaccine. They are part of 81 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies across Missouri who will be giving the vaccine along with 21 Health Mart independent pharmacies across the state.

The vaccines require registrations and will follow the state’s tiered system of who qualifies for the shots. The 102 Missouri retail pharmacies are scheduled to receive a total of more than 18,000 doses per week from the federal government. The vaccine will not come from the state’s allocation of vaccines.

More vaccine is also coming to Missouri through the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday during a press conference that the state expects to receive a “fairly significant” amount of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine next month. The approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected this month.

As of Thursday morning, 9.4% of Missourians have received at least one dose of the vaccine while 3.1% have received both doses. A total of 764,378 doses have been administered in Missouri.

Locally, 15.1% of Scott County residents have received their first dose with 7,169 doses administered. Of those, 5,773 residents have received their first dose while 1,390 have received both doses. In the last week, 1,143 doses have been given to Scott County residents.

In Mississippi County, 11.6% of residents have received their first dose of the vaccine with 1,822 doses administered. Of those, 1,533 residents have received their first dose while 288 have received both doses. In the last week, 519 doses have been administered.

In New Madrid County, 10.1% of the population has received their first dose with 2,068 doses being administered. Of those, 1,747 residents have received their first dose while 321 have received both doses. In the last week, 626 doses have been administered.

In Stoddard County, 10 % of the population has received their first dose with 3,407 doses being administered. Of those, 2,897 residents have received their first dose while 509 have received both doses. In the last week, 671 doses have been administered.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report