Publix opens up more COVID-19 vaccinations as eligibility expands

Publix Super Markets today opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all people ages 40 and older in Florida, a day after doing so for those ages 18 and older in Georgia.

Eligible Floridians can now use Publix’s online reservation system at publix.com/covidvaccine to set appointments for coronavirus shots, beginning Monday, March 29, at participating Publix Pharmacy locations.

Publix said it also will offer scheduling opportunities on March 29 for March 31-April 2 appointments to receive the two-shot Moderna vaccine; on March 31 for April 3-4 appointments to get the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and on April 2 for April 5-6 appointments to receive the Moderna vaccination. Inoculations are administered while supplies last.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said yesterday that all individuals ages 40 and older can to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting on March 29 and that eligibility will be expanded again on April 5 to all people ages 18 and older. Publix has administered COVID vaccinations at all of its 730 pharmacies in Florida’s 43 counties.

“We’ve partnered with pharmacy retailers to offer the vaccine,” DeSantis said in a video announcement. “There are now 1,600 pharmacies located throughout the state of Florida offering COVID vaccines: 730 Publix pharmacies, more than 150 CVS locations. more than 125 Sam’s Club and Walmart locations, more than 70 Winn-Dixie locations.

Related:Supermarket pharmacies do their part in COVID-19 vaccination push

And in the coming days, Walgreens will be expanding to more than 400 additional locations, bringing their total to more than 600 Walgreens pharmacy locations statewide.”

On Thursday, Publix opened its online reservation system for coronavirus immunizations to individuals ages 18 and older in Georgia for appointments on March 29 to April 2. The move came when the state expanded COVID vaccine eligibility to all people ages 16 and older as of March 25.

Publix is offering vaccinations in Georgia only for ages 18 and older because its pharmacies administer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are authorized for use only with people ages 18 and up. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer said those ages 16 and 17 seeking a COVID vaccination can find sites providing the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for ages 16 and older.

In Georgia, Publix is administering COVID vaccines at 146 pharmacies in 39 counties.

Earlier this week, Publix announced plans to administer Moderna 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.

Related:Publix passes 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations

In addition, Publix has expanded coronavirus vaccinations to a fourth state, Tennessee. On Monday, the company said it plans to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines at 23 pharmacies in 12 counties in Tennessee and at 21 pharmacies in 18 counties in Georgia.

The New York Times reported Friday that at least 31 states plan universal COVID vaccine availability for adults by mid-April, before the May 1 target set earlier this month by President Joe Biden. On March 2, Biden announced that the United States will have enough vaccinations for all adults by the end of May.

All adults in Alaska, Mississippi, Utah and West Virginia are already eligible to receive coronavirus shots, and in April other states planning eligibility for all people ages 16 and older to get the vaccine include California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Rhode Island, according to the Times. Minnesota is slated 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, must continue to prioritize certain population groups for immunizations, including pre-K to 12 teachers, school personnel and child care workers as well as staff at child and family care 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 passed 1 million COVID-19 vaccines administered last week, said it continues to communicate with other states in its operating area to provide vaccinations as part of their distribution efforts.