Publix makes changes to the vaccination booking portal COVID-19

The Publix portal for seniors and others who qualify to schedule COVID-19 appointments opened on Friday morning for a new round of registrations with changes designed to make the experience better.

At 90 minutes, the 47,000 available slots were still filled, just as they were during the registration windows in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Publix added its stores in Nassau County to network locations in St. Johns and Flagler Counties to the list where vaccines are available. Other stories from Northeast Florida are not yet providing the photos.

Publix is ​​opening reservation windows at 7am instead of 6am, as the supermarket chain did in previous sign-up windows. The next appointment window opens at 7 am on Wednesday.

Those who go online may notice some changes to help users distinguish between the waiting page and the booking page. Since the system can only host a limited amount of traffic, some users are directed to a booking page to make an appointment when the portal is opened and several thousand more are sent to a waiting page.

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“Some customers were confused by this experience,” Publix communications director Maria Brous told WKMG-TV. “Customers will now have a very clear look at the top of the screen, indicating that they are waiting. The page will continue to update automatically every minute. If the room is opened in the digital reservation system, the web page will transition to the reservation page and customers will be directed to click on a button to make a reservation. “

If you are lucky enough to pass through the waiting room, the clock is ticking by entering all the necessary information before all appointments are over. Publix recommends having the following information available before attempting to apply: date of birth, physical address, e-mail address, Medicare identification number (if applicable), state and county, and name and emergency contact number. Also, be ready to answer questions about your allergies and long-term health history.

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After answering all of these questions, you will be asked to choose a store. If you’re willing to travel to another, more distant Publix, even in another county, your chances of finding an open schedule are increased. For example, Publix stores with pharmacies in Volusia and Marion counties are probably an hour or two away from what you are willing to do. (Complete list of stores offering vaccines)

Another new feature from Friday is that users will be notified when reservations are fully filled, so they know they can try again another day. In the last registration windows, all available appointments were booked in 90 minutes.

“Instead of waiting without being able to make an appointment, whoever receives this notification can continue with their morning activities. There is more demand for the vaccine than the available supply and we understand that this is frustrating. There will be more scheduling opportunities and we encourage those who don’t make an appointment to come back for the next opportunity, ”said Brous.

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Again, the reservation window opened at 7 am on Friday. Visit publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida to join the queue.

Publix offers COVID-19 photos at 325 stores in 23 counties. There is no word on when Publix can add vaccine availability to stories in Jacksonville.

Selected Winn-Dixie pharmacies are due to start offering vaccines next Thursday, but the list of participating locations is not yet available.