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Publix opens up more COVID-19 vaccinations as eligibility expands

Florida pharmacies to provide vaccine to all adults starting April 5

Russell Redman

March 26, 2021

3 Min Read
Publix_supermarket-exterior_photo_1_0.jpg
Publix on Friday opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all people ages 40 and older in Florida, a day after doing so for all adults in Georgia.Publix Super Markets

Publix Super Markets today opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all people ages 40 and older in Florida, a day after doing so for those ages 18 and older in Georgia.

Eligible Floridians can now use Publix’s online reservation system at publix.com/covidvaccine to set appointments for coronavirus shots, beginning Monday, March 29, at participating Publix Pharmacy locations.

Publix said it also will offer scheduling opportunities on March 29 for March 31-April 2 appointments to receive the two-shot Moderna vaccine; on March 31 for April 3-4 appointments to get the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and on April 2 for April 5-6 appointments to receive the Moderna vaccination. Inoculations are administered while supplies last.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said yesterday that all individuals ages 40 and older can to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting on March 29 and that eligibility will be expanded again on April 5 to all people ages 18 and older. Publix has administered COVID vaccinations at all of its 730 pharmacies in Florida’s 43 counties.

“We’ve partnered with pharmacy retailers to offer the vaccine,” DeSantis said in a video announcement. “There are now 1,600 pharmacies located throughout the state of Florida offering COVID vaccines: 730 Publix pharmacies, more than 150 CVS locations. more than 125 Sam’s Club and Walmart locations, more than 70 Winn-Dixie locations.

Related:Supermarket pharmacies do their part in COVID-19 vaccination push

And in the coming days, Walgreens will be expanding to more than 400 additional locations, bringing their total to more than 600 Walgreens pharmacy locations statewide.”

On Thursday, Publix opened its online reservation system for coronavirus immunizations to individuals ages 18 and older in Georgia for appointments on March 29 to April 2. The move came when the state expanded COVID vaccine eligibility to all people ages 16 and older as of March 25.

Publix is offering vaccinations in Georgia only for ages 18 and older because its pharmacies administer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are authorized for use only with people ages 18 and up. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer said those ages 16 and 17 seeking a COVID vaccination can find sites providing the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for ages 16 and older.

In Georgia, Publix is administering COVID vaccines at 146 pharmacies in 39 counties.

Earlier this week, Publix announced plans to administer Moderna vaccines during the week of March 29 at 61 pharmacies in 17 counties in South Carolina and at 15 pharmacies in five counties in Virginia.

Related:Publix passes 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations

In addition, Publix has expanded coronavirus vaccinations to a fourth state, Tennessee. On Monday, the company said it plans to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines at 23 pharmacies in 12 counties in Tennessee and at 21 pharmacies in 18 counties in Georgia.

The New York Times reported Friday that at least 31 states plan universal COVID vaccine availability for adults by mid-April, before the May 1 target set earlier this month by President Joe Biden. On March 2, Biden announced that the United States will have enough vaccinations for all adults by the end of May.

All adults in Alaska, Mississippi, Utah and West Virginia are already eligible to receive coronavirus shots, and in April other states planning eligibility for all people ages 16 and older to get the vaccine include California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Rhode Island, according to the Times. Minnesota is slated to do so on March 30.

Publix noted that retailers in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, announced in February to distribute COVID-19 vaccines directly to pharmacies, must continue to prioritize certain population groups for immunizations, including pre-K to 12 teachers, school personnel and child care workers as well as staff at child and family care centers.

Overall, Publix operates 1,269 stores, including more than 1,000 pharmacies, in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The company, which passed 1 million COVID-19 vaccines administered last week, said it continues to communicate with other states in its operating area to provide vaccinations as part of their distribution efforts.

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Publix Super Markets

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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