Aug 4 - The drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance said on Wednesday that it had administered more than 29 million COVID-19 vaccines at its stores so far, led by a surge in parts of the United States that had lagged in vaccinations.
The state of Florida, Georgia and Kentucky vowed with more than 30% of vaccine administration in the past few weeks, the drugstore chain said.
The company, among the largest U.S. pharmacy chains, had said in June that it aims to administer 28 million vaccines this year.
Walgreens also said it had made masks mandatory for its U.S. employees and required all personnel working in U.S. support offices to be fully vaccinated, the latest company to issue its policies as COVID - 19 cases rise in the United States
New guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommends highly infectious individuals wear mask as well as surging cases due to the unvaccinated Delta variant have led companies to rethink their policies.
Walgreens said on Wednesday that it also encouraged all customers, including those who are vaccinated, to wear masks.
It said the vaccination mandate, which requires employees to be inoculated on September 30 is not applicable to U.S. employees working in stores, distribution centers or other facilities.
On Tuesday, Tyson Foods Inc., Microsoft Corp and Detroit's Big Three Automakers updated their vaccination and masking procedures.