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ShopRite pharmacies to provide COVID-19 vaccines

Wakefern chain to participate in federal coronavirus vaccination efforts

Russell Redman

December 21, 2020

2 Min Read
ShopRite pharmacy-Garafalo Markets.png
HHS and CDC will work with selected ShopRite Pharmacy locations to widen access to coronavirus vaccines in the communities they serve, Wakefern said.ShopRite/Garafalo Markets

Wakefern Food Corp.’s ShopRite chain has joined a pharmacy partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Under the Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination Program, HHS and CDC will work with selected ShopRite Pharmacy locations to widen access to coronavirus vaccines in the communities they serve, Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern said Monday. The company noted that ShopRite pharmacies also are working with state and local jurisdictions to participate in earlier phases of the campaign that aim to reach priority populations, including health care and frontline workers.

The federal initiative is expected coronavirus vaccine coverage across 60% of pharmacies in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“We’re proud to take part in this groundbreaking public health campaign, which could significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Jeffrey Mondelli, vice president of pharmacy, health and beauty at Wakefern, said in a statement. “The federal program is aiming to mass immunize the population throughout the spring of 2021, and our pharmacists are up to the challenge and ready to help our communities.”

Related:FMI: Supermarket pharmacies set for delivery of COVID-19 vaccine

A retailer-owned food cooperative, Wakefern is the logistics, distribution and merchandising arm for ShopRite, which includes about 280 supermarkets located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

Millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses have begun shipping and being administered within the past week from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Coronavirus vaccinations also are upcoming from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novovax, among others.

Information on ShopRite pharmacies that will distribute the vaccine will be provided at a later date, Wakefern reported. 

“We are proud to partner with the CDC and HHS to offer the vaccine to our shoppers at our participating ShopRite Pharmacy locations once it is available,” Mondelli added. “By working with these federal agencies and a network of pharmacy partners, we can help rapidly expand access to COVID-19 vaccines in the neighborhoods served by our ShopRite Pharmacy stores. This is the next step in helping to revitalize our communities.”

Other chain and community pharmacies partnering with HHS on the COVID-19 vaccine access program include Ahold Delhaize USA, Albertsons Cos., Costco Wholesale, CVS, Good Neighbor Pharmacy (AmerisourceBergen), Health Mart (McKesson), H-E-B, Hy-Vee, The Kroger Co., Medicine Shoppe/Leader (Cardinal Health), Meijer, Publix Super Markets, Southeastern Grocers, Walgreens and Walmart. A host of regional food and drug retailers also are serving as federal pharmacy partners for coronavirus vaccinations via Topco Associates, including Acme Fresh Market, Big Y Foods, Brookshire Grocery, Coborn’s, Hartig Drug, King Kullen, Food City, Ingles Markets, Price Chopper, Raley’s, Save Mart Cos., SpartanNash, Tops Friendly Markets, ShopRite, Wegmans Food Markets and Weis Markets.

Related:HHS enlists food and drug chains to boost COVID-19 vaccine access

*Editor's Note: ShopRite updated the name of the federal COVID-19 vaccine program in which it's participating. The retailer is not participating in the long-term care COVID-19 vaccination program.

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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