Parson to divert doses from pharmacies to boost vaccine rate

(AP) Missouri Gov. Mike Parson plans to divert thousands of unused doses of the coronavirus vaccine from CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to other state-enrolled vaccinators to give a boost to the slower-than-expected process. Kelli Jones, the Republican governor’s spokeswoman, says the administration already has requested the return of 25,000 doses from CVS and Walgreens, which would then be re-routed to county health departments, medical hospitals and clinics, local pharmacies and other state-approved vaccinators. CVS and Walgreens were tasked with providing vaccinations at long-term care facilities, and Jones says the new plan won’t affect shots for workers and residents at those coronavirus-ravaged facilities.