Bethesda (United States) (AFP)

For some, immunization represents the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren.

For others, it is the first step towards a slow return to normalcy.

Across the United States, pharmacies on Friday began administering one million doses sent by the federal government.

On a cold day in Bethesda, a suburb of Washington, elderly people, streaming in, arrive to receive the first of two doses of Moderna's vaccine at their local CVS chain pharmacy.

"It's wonderful, it's really practical," said Ted Pochter, 76 years old.

His wife, Liz Pochter, explains that it was their daughter who registered them online the day before before 6:30 a.m.

"I was trying on my phone and it was already full, but it was on the computer and it got there," says the 67-year-old American, who works for the National Gallery of Art, a museum from the capital.

The bite "still hurts a bit", she adds, laughing.

Some 6,500 pharmacies, some of which are in supermarkets, have started administering the first doses in a partnership with the federal authorities.

The program should cover 40,000 establishments in all.

This should both relieve the local health authorities and facilitate the operation for people already used to being vaccinated against the flu in large American drugstore chains.

After an irregular start, the vaccination rate in the United States is on the rise.

35.8 million people have now received at least one dose.

- With the help of the children -

Like the Pochters, Tahmineh Mirmirani needed her son's help to go online and make an appointment early Thursday.

Now, at 81, the journalist in her native Iran says she can't wait to see her grandchildren.

Lee, a 72-year-old retiree who preferred not to give his last name, said he was happy to finally receive the vaccine after spending weeks trying to get the precious injection.

"We registered everywhere, in the county and in the state," he says.

A shadow on the board, however: his wife, who accompanied him on Friday, could not receive the vaccine, and the couple must return Monday for their meeting.

One of their grandchildren is going to graduate, "and we'd love to go to the award ceremony" in June, if it takes place, says Lee.

"We hope that the summer will bring better results with the Covid and the vaccine. I hope they will be able to vaccinate a lot of people by then".

Many others have found the registration system for vaccination frustrating.

Faye Elkins, 74, says she spent part of Thursday in line at a high school, only to be told that the remedy was here reserved for over 75s, not over 65s years as she thought.

"We had to turn back, with several other people, some of whom had lined up for up to three in the cold," she lamented.

Ms Elkins and her husband Jim Barnett said they were unable to get a pharmacy appointment despite their best efforts, but they still came to take a chance, in case someone canceled their appointment.

© 2021 AFP