Michiana pharmacies preparing to make free N95 masks available

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that cloth masks are no longer as effective in preventing the spread of the omicron variant.

 Because of this, the Biden Administration is rolling out a new program making 400 million non-surgical N95 masks available to the public for free. They’re all coming from the country’s Strategic National Stockpile, and each person can receive up to three masks. 

 Distribution is set to begin at national chains like Meijer and Kroger as early as Thursday, but, Rick Koomler, a Kroger Pharmacist in Northern Indiana said local stores are still waiting on shipments.

 At this point, they don’t have a specific date on when they’ll arrive. But Koomler said once they do, the masks will only be available at locations with pharmacies.

 “When the masks come in, the store management will display those and make those available in a prominent place in the store for the public to access. So, the pharmacy is not exactly going to play a role in handing them out,” Koomler said.