The drugstore chain Walgreens has teamed up with the rideshare service Uber. Their collective goal? To provide increased access to COVID-19 care for underserved communities in the United States.
This is huge news. Earlier this week, the United States marked the grim one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 death in the United States. Since that day, the United States alone has seen over 27 million positive cases, as well as almost 500 thousand deaths as a result of the virus. These numbers continue to grow exponentially every day.
Unfortunately, underserved communities in the United States continue to bear the brunt of this pandemic. CDC data shows that among all ethnic groups in the United States, Black and Hispanic Americans suffer COVID-19 hospitalization rates that are almost four times that of the average American population. Similarly, according to KFF.org, low-income households in the United States, regardless of racial makeup, are significantly more at risk of contracting COVID-19 than those from higher-income households.
Other factors that perpetuate these statistics are access to reliable transportation and vaccine hesitancy. Over 80% of the United States lives within five miles of a Walgreens store. However, many of these locations are on busy roads or are not located among bus lines. Some of these communities also suffer from vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation about vaccine makeup and healthcare options.
Due to these unsettling statistics, Walgreens and Uber have teamed up to address a growing problem for these underserved communities: access to primary care and pharmacies. Over the coming months, Uber will begin to offer almost 10 million free or reduced rides to Walgreens locations that carry the COVID-19 vaccination. The ultimate goal is to provide easier access to pharmaceuticals for those that may not live close to a drug store or may not have reliable transportation.
“By combining Walgreens deep experience in community care with Uber’s transportation technology and logistics expertise, we will take bold action to address vaccine access and hesitancy among those hit hardest by the pandemic,” stated John Standley, the president of Walgreens.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shares a similar sentiment: “Transportation should never be a barrier to health care. We look forward to building on this exciting new partnership with Walgreens, harnessing the power of the Uber platform to help connect more people with vaccines, as we all work together to help end this pandemic.”
Along with free transportation to Walgreens locations, the companies are also collaborating on technology to streamline the appointment process for receiving a vaccine. When you pre-register for an appointment through the Walgreens app, you will receive the option to pre-schedule your Uber ride along with it. This process makes it easier for people to be connected to drivers and healthcare workers at the same time. Uber and Walgreens also hope that the ease of service will help alleviate vaccine anxiety for these communities.
Combined, these companies are providing a service that is going to largely benefit the American public, especially those in low-income and underserved communities. The test phase of the project is in motion, with rides being tested in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and El Paso.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube and Pinterest!