transportation

Uber Touts Its COVID-19 Efforts

Uber sent out an email to customers Wednesday touting the actions the ride-sharing company has taken to help end the global pandemic. 

With the headline “We can’t move forward until we can all move forward,” the message communicates the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

“We’ve all been anxiously awaiting progress on the vaccine—hoping that our schools will reopen, our small businesses will begin their recoveries, and we’ll finally be able to hug our loved ones again,” the message reads. “But this won’t happen until everyone has equal access to the vaccine.”

Underserved and vulnerable communities face transportation barriers that deny them fair access to the vaccine, according to the company.

“Transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to getting access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” the email reads.

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It outlines moves the company made to that end, such as donating 10 million rides for those in need including essential workers, seniors, and underserved communities.

Uber has partnered with the National Urban League, National Action Network, the Morehouse School of Medicine, Moderna and Walgreens with the goal of ensuring that vaccine access is more equitable for all.

The partnership with Walgreen’s, announced last week, includes several initiatives rolling out over the next few months, such as free transportation to Walgreens stores and offsite vaccine clinics. Pilot transportation programs will begin in cities including Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and El Paso.

The initiative includes one-click access to pre-schedule rides on Uber when a Walgreens vaccination appointment is made.  New in-app features are being designed to more seamlessly connect active drivers, delivery people, and freight carriers using Uber, Uber Eats, or Uber Freight, with vaccines when they become more readily available.

Uber continues to enforce a “no mask, no ride” policy to try to keep drivers safe and created a video detailing the effort, which has been viewed more than 3.5 million times on YouTube alone.

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