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Southeastern Grocers readies COVID shots in Florida

Moderna vaccine allocation comes via Federal Retail Pharmacy Program

Russell Redman

February 5, 2021

2 Min Read
SE Grocers pharmacy-COVID vaccination.jpg
Southeastern Grocers plans to provide 8,100 vaccinations at no cost on Feb. 11 in selected Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket pharmacies in Florida.Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers next week plans to administer an allocation of Moderna COVID-19 in selected stores across Florida.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based food and drug chain said late yesterday that it’s “in final preparations” to provide 8,100 of the vaccinations at no cost on Feb. 11 in Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket pharmacies through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. 

The Biden administration announced the program earlier this week to supply coronavirus immunizations directly to supermarket, drugstore, mass merchant and other retail pharmacy locations. Southeastern Grocers was named as a retail partner in the program. 

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to being a store our customers can always count on, not just for their groceries, but as an advocate for their health and wellness as the pandemic continues to overwhelm our communities,” President and CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement. “We are all in this together, and as availability continues to expand, our expert pharmacists stand ready to begin vaccinations throughout the communities we serve to help combat the coronavirus across the Southeast.” 

In line with Florida health authority guidelines, Southeastern Grocers said it will initially offer the free vaccines to health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, as well as to seniors, while supplies last. 

Related:Biden administration expedites COVID-19 vaccine distribution to pharmacies

Those eligible can find out about COVID vaccination availability and schedule appointments for a shot online at winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine, harveyssupermarkets.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine and frescoymas.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine. Although the vaccines are free, people with health coverage must provide their health insurance card at their appointment, and those without insurance will need to present a valid driver’s license or social security card. 

Southeastern Grocers said it’s providing the coronavirus shots in partnership with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“The State of Florida is proud to partner with Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarkets to provide eligible Floridians across the state access to the vaccine,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated. “We look forward to collaborating and expanding these efforts, together.” 

As more vaccine allocations become available from state and federal sources, Southeastern Grocers said it plans to administer additional free COVID vaccines “directly to the front line” at all of in-store pharmacies. In the coming months, the company also will provide more vaccinations at pharmacy locations and coordinate drive-thru clinics to provide free coronavirus immunizations in underserved communities. 

Related:Southeastern Grocers shelves IPO

Overall, Southeastern Grocers operates over 500 supermarkets in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Mississippi under the Winn-Dixie, Harveys, Fresco y Más adn Bi-Lo banners. That includes 231 in-store pharmacies, 159 of which are in Florida.

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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