A recent analysis by the Rural Policy Research Institute sheds light on “pharmacy deserts” or counties with few or no local pharmacies. In-depth research shows that 111 rural counties, mostly between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, have no pharmacies. Many other counties have just one or two. A separate study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and the West Health Policy Center found that 89 percent of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. But the remaining 1.6 million people must travel more than 20 miles. Pharmacy networks are a major distributor of COVID-19 vaccinations.

As vaccine supply increases and the general population gets vaccinated, pharmacy deserts may present a major hurdle for rural Americans seeking vaccines.

You can read the RPRI study here: https://rupri.public-health.uiowa.edu/publications/policybriefs/2020/COVID%20Pharmacy%20Brief.pdf

Original article from Kaiser Health Network here: https://khn.org/news/article/rural-america-pharmacy-deserts-hurting-for-covid-vaccine-access/