Publix Super Markets today opened consultations for COVID-19 vaccines for everyone aged 40 and over in Florida, a day after doing so for those aged 18 and over in Georgia.
Eligible floridians can now use the Publix online booking system at publix.com/covidvaccine to make appointments for coronavirus injections, starting Monday, March 29, at participating Publix Pharmacy stores.
Publix said it will also offer scheduling opportunities on March 29 for appointments from March 31 to April 2 to receive the Modern double vaccine; on March 31 for consultations from April 3 to 4 to receive Johnson & Johnson’s unique vaccine; and on the 2nd of April for consultations from the 5th to the 6th of April to receive the Modern vaccination. Inoculations are administered while supplies last.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said yesterday that all individuals aged 40 and over can receive the COVID-19 vaccine from March 29 and that eligibility will be expanded again on April 5 for all 18-year-olds. or more. Publix administered COVID vaccines in all of its 730 pharmacies across 43 counties in Florida.
“We partnered with pharmacy retailers to offer the vaccine,” said DeSantis in a video ad. “There are now 1,600 pharmacies located across the state of Florida offering COVID vaccines: 730 Publix pharmacies, more than 150 CVS locations. over 125 Sam’s Club and Walmart locations, over 70 Winn-Dixie locations.
And in the coming days, Walgreens will expand to more than 400 additional locations, bringing the total to more than 600 Walgreens pharmacies across the state. “
On Thursday, Publix opened its online reservation system for coronavirus immunizations for individuals aged 18 and over in Georgia for consultations from March 29 to April 2. The change came when the state expanded the eligibility of the COVID vaccine to all people aged 16 and over on March 25.
Publix is offering vaccines in Georgia only to people over 18 because their pharmacies administer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are authorized for use only by people 18 and over. The owner of the Lakeland, Fla.-Based grocery store said that 16- and 17-year-olds looking for the COVID vaccination can find locations that provide the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for those over 16.
In Georgia, Publix is administering COVID vaccines at 146 pharmacies in 39 counties.
Earlier this week, Publix announced plans to administer Modern 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.
In addition, Publix expanded coronavirus vaccinations to a fourth state, Tennessee. On Monday, the company said it plans to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines in 23 pharmacies in 12 counties in Tennessee and in 21 pharmacies in 18 counties in Georgia.
The New York Times reported on Friday that at least 31 states plan the availability of the universal COVID vaccine for adults by mid-April, ahead of the May 1 goal set earlier this month by President Joe Biden. On March 2, Biden announced that the United States will have enough vaccines for all adults by the end of May.
All adults in Alaska, Mississippi, Utah and West Virginia are already eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines and, in April, other states that plan eligibility for all people aged 16 and over to receive the vaccine include California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Rhode Island, according to the Times. Minnesota is scheduled 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, should continue to prioritize certain population groups for immunizations, including preschoolers at age 12, school officials and daycare centers also as a team in daycare centers and daycare 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 approved 1 million COVID-19 vaccines administered last week, said it continues to communicate with other states in its operational area to provide vaccines as part of its distribution efforts.