Dollar General may partner with CDC to distribute COVID vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in talks with Dollar General as the organization looks to accelerate the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in rural areas.

Dollar General has more than 16,000 stores nationwide, many which are located in or close to rural communities. Although the discounter does have not in-store pharmacies, many of its stores have refrigeration capabilities. 

"In rural areas, residents often don't have access to big-box stores,"  CDC director Rochelle Walensky said at the Health Action Alliance's virtual National Business Summit, reported USA Today. "We're exploring a promising collaboration with Dollar General stores, which have locations that include refrigeration capacity within 10 or 15 miles of our rural communities in all but four states."

The talks between the CDC and Dollar General come amid growing concern that many Americans who live in rural areas won't get vaccinated.