After Governor JB Pritzker, lawmakers, and families complained pharmacy companies Walgreens and CVS Health were too slow in vaccinating residents at nursing homes around the state, officials with the two companies pushed back during an Illinois Senate committee hearing Thursday.

Lobbyists for Deerfield-based Walgreens and for CVS Health told the Senate Health Committee in a virtual committee hearing the effort to vaccinate residents in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities is nearing completion.

Joel Baise, Senior Director for State and Local Government Relations for Walgreens says the company was contracted by the federal government to vaccinate residents at 310 skilled nursing facilities and 615 assisted living homes around the state.

“Our focus right now is completing all of the facilities that chose to partner with Walgreens,” Baise said. “It is important to remember that the state of Illinois activated its long term care program on December 28. Walgreens received our assigned long term care facility partners in late November, and we spent the month reaching out to facilities helping them to prepare for our arrival. Walgreens completed our first dose in all skilled nursing facilities that were assigned to us on or around January 21st, four days ahead of the goal that was set by the state.”

Baise says the company’s contract with the CDC prioritized skilled nursing facilities before assisted living. He said the company hopes to have all first shots done at assisted living facilities by February 15. Skilled nursing home residents are currently receiving their second dose of the vaccine.

CVS Health Director of State Government Affairs Larry Lewis says 817 long term care facilities were part of the company’s contract in Illinois. He says the company finished first doses at skilled nursing facilities on January 25. He says the company is 90% of the way through second doses at skilled nursing facilities.

Senators asked both companies about delays people are having trying to secure appointments for the vaccine in all corners of the state. CVS isn’t offering the vaccine at retail spaces yet, and Walgreens is only vaccinating at 171 locations in the state with more coming online today.

Lewis says, for CVS, it all comes down to supply.

“The biggest challenge we have is supply,” he said. “So, naturally, as more supply becomes available, we will be ready, willing, and able to vaccinate across our retail footprint when that is there.”

In addition to online and mobile app scheduling, Lewis says CVS will have a 1-800 number for scheduling appointments.

Baise says the company is doing its best to make more vaccine available to the qualified public.

“We know [finding] available appointments is frustrating,” Baise said. “We hear your concerns and share your frustrations. Supply is extremely limited. But once supply builds, it will be easier to get an appointment at Walgreens.”

When asked how the company was preventing people from other communities from getting the vaccine at locations that serve minority communities, Baise said the company is trying to narrow appointments to locations close to where people live. But he says Walgreens has reserved some local appointments in underserved communities and they invite their customers age 65 and older to come in for vaccines.

Walgreens was also questioned about limited vaccination clinics for teachers in Lake County. Baise said the state approved a few school clinics.

“Walgreens was authorized by the state to conduct a limited amount of school clinics as a pilot program,” he said. “As soon as we are allowed by the state, and I think it goes back to the supply issue, when the supply is there, we will conduct as many school clinics as possible.”

As they prepare to get more vaccine and to vaccinate more people, both companies say they are “staffing up” to have more people on hand.

Patrick Pfingsten

@pfingsten1 patrick@theillinoize.com