Ride sharing giant Uber and drugstore giant Walgreens are partnering to ensure “equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines among underserved communities” with free rides to the drugstore chain’s vaccine sites.
The companies said Tuesday they will combine Uber’s ride-sharing technology with Walgreens access to patients to address historical barriers to health equity “including education, access and technology.”
The Walgreens-Uber partnership is the latest by ride sharing giants to ensure Americans not only have a way to get to a vaccination site but are “addressing these barriers through the development of educational programs with community leaders and organizations, technology solutions that make it easier to connect people with vaccine appointments, and free transportation to Walgreens vaccine clinics among socially vulnerable communities.”
“Transportation should never be a barrier to health care,” Uber chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi said. “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,”
Uber already has a partnership with vaccine maker Moderna ensure Americans have credible information as they take vaccines against Covid-19 as they become available. And in December Lyft said its ride share network will be prepared to transport 60 million low-income and uninsured Americans to vaccination sites. has partnered with health insurance giant Anthem, JP Morgan Chase and the United Way among several other groups and companies to get Americans to and from Covid-19 vaccination sites.
“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,” Walgreens president John Standley said.
Source: Forbes
