Empower Clinics Inc. (CSE:CBDT, OTCQB:EPWCF) has announced that its Kai Medical Laboratory has received approval to be a coronavirus Pandemic Provider with the ability to administer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations in the US.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have successfully received and approved Kai Lab's application as of mid-October.
The company said Dallas-based Kai Lab can immediately begin placing orders for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) COVID-19 vaccines.
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As part of the application process, Empower said Kai Lab required a deep cold freezer (minus 80 Celcius) purchase and data history of DSHS compliant vaccine temperature data loggers, and proof of trained and certified staff members able to catalog and administer vaccinations.
As a result, the company noted that through government COVID-19 vaccination portals, businesses, schools, and other groups can directly connect with Kai Labs to coordinate vaccination clinics.
"I'm immensely proud of the Kai team for successfully completing this complex approval process," said Empower CEO Steven McAuley in a statement.
"Kai Lab is a state-of-the-art facility, and with the help of its recent expansion, its facilities and personnel were able to qualify to meet the continued demand for COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. has made history with the speed of its vaccination program, and the Empower team is eager to offer additional access through convenient vaccination clinics starting with the Texas market."
Yoshi Tyler, Kai Medical’s president, added: “Adding vaccines to our current line of services will provide our customers with a larger more comprehensive suite of services. Aided by our recent expansion, we are executing our goals to provide innovative testing and healthcare solutions to millions."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the US government has poured over $10 billion into the production, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Empower said it anticipates earning US$40 per vaccine administered from government vaccine administration programs. Kai Lab's has placed its initial batch orders, which includes 1,200 vaccines per batch with the initial batch anticipated to arrive within two weeks.
Vaccination numbers have increased in recent weeks as more employers and jurisdictions implement some variation of mandates. Since August, demand has also picked up with booster shots made available to seniors, high-risk individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
Empower said it is expected that first-time vaccinations will drastically increase as the US Food and Drug Administration meets in the coming weeks to review Pfizer and BioNTech's request to authorize emergency use of their COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.
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