The government partnered with 11 supermarket chains across the country in November 2020 to bring a free COVID-19 vaccine to everyone in America. Since then, two vaccines have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and now several supermarkets and pharmacies in your neighborhood are already administering them in the first round of patients.
We have put together these places that can have it ready for distribution to customers like you as soon as possible.
Kroger Health began administering the Pfizer vaccine to healthcare professionals in Anchorage and Juneau, Alaska, in the last days of December 2020, according to a statement. “Kroger Health is also involved in vaccination efforts for prioritized populations in several other geographies,” says the company. They currently have 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 states.
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Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in New Mexico began administering the Modern vaccine to healthcare professionals in mid-December 2020, said the network’s medical director, Dr. Tom Van Gilder. Rural areas were prioritized, but pharmacists were also included in the first round.
Like Kroger, Walmart says it is in talks with other state officials about how to make the vaccine available there, not just for people considered in Priority 1A, but for essential workers, first responders, those with high-risk medical conditions and older Americans in Priority 1B and Priority 1C. Walmart has more than 5,000 pharmacies in all states.
While we wait for more information to be made available, this COVID-19 precaution is temporarily closing some Walmart stores.
This Boise, Idaho-based network gave healthcare professionals the first doses of the vaccine as part of Phase 1A at a clinic in Alaska, it said in a December 23 statement. However, “the company received doses in eight other states for this first critical phase and expects more supplies to be on the way,” which can be distributed at one of 1,700 pharmacies, supermarkets or a separate location in the community. Albertsons is currently hiring 800 additional pharmacy employees to help with demand.
Other stores such as Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Tom Thumb and others are part of the Albertsons brand.
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HEB is already ordering more of the Modern vaccine from the state of Texas after distributing or scheduling the distribution of the entire first batch, the company said on January 3.
“We are waiting for another allocation of vaccine from the state of Texas so that we can continue to vaccinate healthcare providers, as well as start offering vaccine to those in Phase 1B,” according to a statement on the company’s website. “As soon as we have the supply, we will activate a scheduling tool on our website so that people can schedule an appointment.”
The first recipients of Hy-Vee’s Modern COVID-19 vaccine were about 100 residents and employees of a long-term care facility in Fairmont, Minnesota, the company announced in late December. Shortly thereafter, several dozen health professionals in Dallas County, Iowa, were next, and the network continues to administer the vaccine to others in the area and in Polk County.
The network plans to distribute the vaccine in more than 270 pharmacies in eight states, which include Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
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Twenty-two pharmacies at Publix stores in three Florida counties are expected to distribute 15,000 doses of the free Modern vaccine starting January 7, Governor Ron DeSantis announced at a news conference. The network expects to manage it to 120 people per day in the municipalities of Citrus, Hernando and Marion.
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