Equity Impacts of Dollar Store Vaccine Distribution

TL;DR

This study analyzes how partnering with dollar store chains like Dollar General and Dollar Tree for COVID-19 vaccine distribution can improve access for vulnerable populations by reducing travel distance to vaccination sites.

Contribution

It provides the first geospatial analysis comparing dollar store partnerships to existing programs, highlighting their potential to enhance vaccine equity in high-vulnerability areas.

Findings

Dollar General stores are often in high social vulnerability areas.

Using dollar stores as vaccination sites reduces travel distance for low-income and minority households.

Partnerships with dollar stores can significantly increase vaccine access, surpassing federal targets.

Abstract

We use geospatial data to examine the unprecedented national program currentlyunderway in the United States to distribute and administer vaccines against COVID-19. We quantify the impact of the proposed federal partnership with the companyDollar General to serve as vaccination sites and compare vaccine access with DollarGeneral to the current Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Program. Although dollarstores have been viewed with skepticism and controversy in the policy sector, we showthat, relative to the locations of the current federal program, Dollar General stores aredisproportionately likely to be located in Census tracts with high social vulnerability;using these stores as vaccination sites would greatly decrease the distance to vaccinesfor both low-income and minority households. We consider a hypothetical alternativepartnership with Dollar Tree and show that adding these stores to the vaccinationprogram would be similarly valuable, but impact different geographic areas than theDollar General partnership. Adding Dollar General to the current pharmacy partnersgreatly surpasses the goal set by the Biden administration of having 90% of the popu-lation within 5 miles of a vaccine site. We discuss the potential benefits of leveragingthese partnerships for other vaccinations, including against influenza.