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Uber, Moderna Partner On Covid-19 Vaccine Information Rollout

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Uber and vaccine maker Moderna are partnering to ensure Americans have credible information as they take vaccines against Covid-19 as they become available.

The move by the ride sharing giant is the latest by Uber and rival Lyft to ensure Americans not only have a way to get to a vaccination site but now want to ensure they get “credible information” about vaccines. Moderna last month joined Pfizer, which also has a Covid-19 vaccine, in winning emergency use authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for vaccines already being given to millions of Americans, including elderly in nursing homes and healthcare workers.

The two companies will “work together initially to provide accessible, credible information on vaccine safety through Uber’s in-app messaging,” Uber and Moderna said in a joint statement Tuesday. “The two companies will also work with public health and other organizations to identify additional opportunities to support ongoing efforts to broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines.” 

The announcement by Uber and Moderna comes less than a month after Lyft said its - ride share network will be prepared to transport 60 million low-income and uninsured Americans to vaccination sites. Lyft said last month it has partnered with health insurance giant Anthem, JP Morgan Chase and the United Way among several other groups and companies to get Americans to and from Covid-19 vaccination sites.

Meanwhile, Uber last month committed to providing 10 million free and discounted rides to help “ensure transportation is not a barrier to getting a vaccine.”

But Uber said Tuesday ride-share is only part of what it can do to encourage Americans to get vaccinated and will leverage its technology capabilities to ensure Americans are educated, particularly in medically underserved neighborhoods.

“Used by millions of people every day, the Uber platform can both help educate the public about vaccine safety and help eliminate transportation barriers to vaccination,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said. “Together with Moderna, we hope to do our part to help increase vaccination awareness and adoption, and we look forward to exploring ways we can help ensure everyone, especially in the hardest-hit communities of color, has access to a vaccine.”

 Moderna and Uber also say they are looking into other ways they can work together that include “incorporating ride scheduling directly into the immunization appointment process, and possibly integrating with vaccine providers’ systems to text reminders and enable patients to book rides in advance of their first or second immunization appointments.”

“As part of our commitment to help address COVID-19, Moderna will be working with a coalition of partners to educate, build trust around and increase awareness of the importance of vaccination in those communities significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said. “We look forward to combining our expertise with Uber’s capabilities and platform to support this important effort.”

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