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Ralphs gets under way with COVID-19 vaccinations

Kroger Co. chain starts with health care workers in hard-hit Southern California

Russell Redman

January 11, 2021

3 Min Read
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Ralphs is now providing the Moderna vaccine to its pharmacy team and other health care professionals at its 50 pharmacies in California’s Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.Ralphs Grocery Co.

With coronavirus infections and deaths soaring in Southern California, The Kroger Co.’s Ralphs supermarket chain has begun administering COVID-19 vaccines to health care personnel.

Los Angeles-based Ralphs said Friday it has obtained a supply of the Moderna vaccine and is providing immunizations to its pharmacy staff and other health care professionals at its 50 pharmacies in California’s Los Angeles and Riverside Counties. Plans call for Ralphs Pharmacy locations in San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and the City of Long Beach to get allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

Available at no cost, the vaccinations currently are only being offered to people eligible for the first tier of Phase 1A of county public health COVID-19 vaccine guidelines, according to Ralphs. Those seeking a shot must first complete a disclosure form indicating they’re eligible for the Phase 1A distribution.

“Our most urgent priority throughout this pandemic has been to provide a safe environment for our associates and customers while meeting our societal obligation to provide open stores and access to fresh, affordable food,” Dr. Linh Lee, director of pharmacy, health and wellness at Ralphs, said in a statement. “We are pleased that, through our advocacy efforts, our frontline associates have been moved to Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.”

Related:Kroger gears up to administer COVID-19 vaccines

Ralphs noted that it will follow guidance from local health departments on vaccine allocation for the general public. The retailer said it plans to roll out the COVID vaccination to all 77 pharmacies in its 188 stores across Southern California and the Central Coast as soon it becomes available via local health authorities.

“We are confident in the safety of the vaccine based on the thorough clinical trials and assurances from the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Lee added. "Additionally, Ralphs pharmacists will provide monitoring for 15 to 30 minutes after the vaccination is administered for any potential immediate reaction that could occur.”

As of late afternoon on Monday, California had nearly 2.72 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 30,000 deaths from the virus, with a statewide testing positivity rate of 7.46%, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Of the top 10 U.S. counties in terms of confirmed coronavirus cases, California has five, with No. 1 Los Angeles County having more than double the number of cases (920,177) than the next-highest county, Chicago’s Cook County (417,790).

Related:Publix set to begin coronavirus vaccinations in Florida

Kroger Health, the health care arm of The Kroger Co., announced in late December that it was preparing to provide coronavirus vaccinations nationwide across its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 in-store clinics in 35 states.

Ralphs added that it has been proactive throughout the pandemic in providing at-home and free drive-through COVID-19 testing. The chain said it has assisted Cincinnati-based parent company Kroger in conducting over 250,000 COVID-19 tests nationally since April. Kroger continues to offer free COVID-19 testing to all Ralphs' frontline associates. More recently, Ralphs and Kroger became the nation’s first retailer to offer rapid antibody tests to customers for just $25. Rapid antibody testing helps inform patients if they previously have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

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

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