LOXAHATCHEE, Florida – Publix once again canceled its scheduling window for the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday due to delays in sending the vaccine.
Winter storms have caused the company to cancel appointments twice this week, and seniors anxious for appointments are wondering how else they could get the vaccine at their Publix pharmacy.
It is widely known that you cannot just go to a Publix pharmacy and get the COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment.
But the persistence of an Acreage woman and a possible non-attendance led her to get the photo.
Week after week, Silvia Permenter, 65, tried to get a consultation on the vaccine COVID-19 through the scheduling website Publix.
“It was very difficult to get it, I didn’t get it. I wasn’t lucky, you know, to get an appointment,” said Permenter.
She has been unemployed for two months, afraid to return to the classroom as a substitute teacher.
“It is scary, the coronavirus, because you don’t know how it will affect you,” said Permenter.
Determined to get the vaccine, she started calling the local Publix every day asking if anyone had canceled the appointment or had not come. But every time, she was told to call later.
Permenter said there was never availability, until she asked to speak to the manager.
“I asked him what is the protocol for vaccines, cancellations or people who don’t show up? And he told me he has a list, ”said Permenter.
A Publix spokesman said that as a practice, there are no waiting lists for the vaccine, but there is the practice of vaccinating employees with leftovers every night.
But Permenter said there was a waiting list at the local Publix, and when she spoke to the right person on Wednesday, she answered.
“They were running out of vaccines, so the last appointment was at 3 am and he called me at 3 am,” said Permenter. “He told me that I was lucky and it was a cancellation so that I could get my vaccine.”
Silvia hopes that after receiving the second dose she will be able to return to work.
“I am very happy,” said Permenter. “You have to be persistent, you know? There are cancellations.”
The Publix website informs customers that they cannot make an appointment by calling the store or pharmacy.
The company is asking people to continue to check the appointment website for updates in the next scheduling window.