Sponsored By

Big Y Foods sets round of COVID-19 vaccine mobile clinics

Walk-up vaccinations available in parking lots of six Massachusetts stores

Russell Redman

July 23, 2021

3 Min Read
Big_Y_Foods_store_0_0.png
Since January, Big Y pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have administered nearly 40,000 COVID-19 shots, the regional grocer said.Big Y Foods

Big Y Foods plans to hold mobile clinics for COVID-19 shots over the next two weeks in the parking lots of selected stores in Massachusetts.

The Springfield, Mass.-based regional grocer said the clinics will be held Thursdays through Saturdays this week and next week in the parking area of its Big Y World Class Market supermarkets in West Springfield, Chicopee, Worcester, Greenfield, Ludlow and Westfield, Mass.

Big Y noted that it has partnered with the state of Massachusetts to provide the free vaccinations to residents on a walk-up basis. Both the two-shot Pfizer/BioNTech and one-shot Johnson & Johnson are being offered.

Those receiving the Pfizer vaccine will be able to return to the Big Y store where they were inoculated three weeks later to get their second dose, as the grocer has scheduled Thursday-Saturday clinics in August to provide the follow-up shots.

People receiving their first shot at a Big Y mobile clinic also will be given a $25 store gift card, the retailer said, adding that the incentive is funded by the state.

So far, Big Y pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have administered almost 40,000 COVID-19 immunizations since the chain began offering them in January, Big Y reported. The retailer currently provides COVID vaccines without an appointment at all 33 Big Y Pharmacy locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Customers can access a COVID vaccination scheduling tool on the Big Y website.

Related:Big Y Foods to launch telemedicine service

“We are proud to partner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in order to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to our customers,” Charles D’Amour, president and CEO of Big Y Foods, said in a statement. “It is our hope that our customers take advantage of this convenience while also receiving a $25 gift card to Big Y.”

Via its membership in the Topco Associates network, Big Y participates in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination, which supplies coronavirus vaccines directly to pharmacies nationwide. As of July 14, the nearly 40,000 pharmacies participating in the program had provided 99 million shots, accounting for 58% of total U.S. doses and 59% of all adolescent doses, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores reported. Also, 9,900 pharmacy pop-up clinics administered 2.9 million doses to communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, NACDS said.

Through July 22, 56.4% of the U.S. population had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 48.8% had been fully vaccinated, with 339.8 million vaccines administered of the 392 million delivered by manufacturers, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 68.6% of Americans ages 18 and older had gotten at least one shot (59.7% fully vaccinated), while 65.9% of those ages 12 and older have received at least one dose (57.1% fully vaccinated).

Related:Big Y Foods kicks off myPicks online grocery service

Overall, Big Y Foods operates 85 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including 71 Big Y World Class Market supermarkets, one Fresh Acres Market grocery store, one Table & Vine Fine Wines & Liquors store, and 12 Big Y Express fuel and convenience locations. 

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like