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Publix offers store gift card to employees receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Rising number of grocery retailers give workers incentives to get vaccinated

Russell Redman

February 19, 2021

2 Min Read
Publix Pharmacy department-pharmacist copy.jpg
Publix recently passed the 300,000 mark in COVID-19 shots administered, with its pharmacies providing vaccines in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.Publix

Publix Super Markets has joined a growing list of grocery retailers offering employees an incentive to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix said Friday that associates will receive a $125 Publix gift card after receiving a full coronavirus immunization. Both of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States — from Moderna (available at selected Publix pharmacies) and Pfizer/BioNTech — require two shots, 28 days and 21 days apart, respectively.

To receive the store gift card, associates must be currently employed, submit an internal form and proof of vaccination, according to Publix. Employees aren’t required to get immunized at a Publix pharmacy to receive the gift card. The company noted that it’s encouraging — but not requiring — its workers to receive a COVID-19 inoculation.

“We care about our associates and customers and believe getting vaccinated can help us take one step closer to getting back to normal,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a statement. “We’re encouraging our associates to get vaccinated when they become eligible and doses are available.” 

Other grocery retailers providing worker incentives to get a COVID shot — such as extra pay, bonuses, financial assistance, time off for the immunization and/or other benefits — include The Kroger Co., Target, Aldi, Lidl, Trader Joe’s and Dollar General, as well as online grocery delivery giant Instacart.

Related:Target offers COVID-19 vaccine incentives to hourly workers

A week ago, Publix announced that it surpassed the 300,000 mark in COVID-19 vaccinations since it began administering the vaccine early in 2021. The chain said at the time that pharmacies have provided more than 250,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in Florida and about 50,000 doses in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

Publix has been administering the vaccines at no charge upon receiving supply, announcing dates when its online registration system opens for consumers to make appointments for the shot as well as the dates that the vaccines are given. After receiving the first dose, patients are automatically scheduled to receive their second dose at the same location four weeks later. 

On Friday, Publix opened its publix.com/covidvaccine site for COVID-19 vaccination appointments at 60 pharmacies in South Carolina. The period for appointments runs Monday, Feb. 22, to Friday, Feb. 26. 

Publix added that it’s working other states in its operating area to provide coronavirus vaccines as part of their distribution efforts. Overall, the company operates more than 1,000 pharmacies in its 1,267 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Related:Kroger offers workers $100 payment to get COVID-19 vaccination

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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