Uber offers vaccine appointments

Uber Technologies will let customers schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments through the app at nearby Walgreens pharmacies in the United States, a program that reflects the importance of inoculations to the ride-hailing business.

When booking a shot through the app starting Wednesday, customers then can schedule transportation to and from the pharmacy.

It will do the same for a follow-up appointment at Walgreens locations that administer vaccines requiring two shots.

The initiative extends an existing arrangement between the nation’s largest app for rides and the second-largest pharmacy chain.

Uber and Walgreens Boots Alliance began offering free and discounted rides to Walgreens vaccine clinics, aiming to vaccinate essential workers and accelerate distribution.

The pandemic decimated ride demand over the past year. In recent weeks, those numbers have begun to bounce back as vaccination rates have increased and normal activities are returning.

America’s second-largest ride-hailing provider, Lyft, said last year it would provide 60 million rides to and from vaccine sites in low-income, uninsured and at-risk communities through an arrangement with Anthem, JPMorgan Chase and United Way. Lyft later partnered with CVS Health Corp. and the YMCA.