Publix tops 300,000 mark in COVID-19 vaccines administered

Publix Super Markets has provided more than 300,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in four states since it began administering the vaccine a week into the new year.

Publix said Friday that, through the end of Feb. 11, its pharmacies have administered over 250,000 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to customers in Florida and roughly 50,000 doses to customers in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

Earlier this week, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix received COVID vaccine doses from the state of Florida and the federal government, enabling Publix Pharmacy to inoculate eligible individuals — residents ages 65 and older — at 593 locations in 41 Florida counties starting on Feb. 12.

To date, Publix has administered 100% of the 250,000-plus first doses of vaccine it was allocated in Florida, the company said. The Moderna vaccine, for ages 18 and older, requires two shots given 28 days apart.

“Publix is a company founded on a commitment to service, and I am proud of the role we have played in the past month to serve our communities during this time of need,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a statement. “There is tremendous demand for this vaccine, and we are grateful our customers are looking to and trusting us to provide it. It is our hope that continued collaborations with the states in our operating area and the federal government will allow us to quickly increase the number of customers we can vaccinate in the weeks ahead.”

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Publix kicked off its COVID-19 vaccination program on Jan. 7 with a 22-store pilot in Florida, announced with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The effort — for seniors, health care personnel, and long-term care residents and staff — came several days after the state called on retailers for assistance in administering the vaccine, the company noted.

In the ensuing weeks, Publix rolled out Moderna COVID vaccines to pharmacies in Georgia and South Carolina and then followed up with subsequent allocations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Earlier this month, the company initiated vaccinations in Virginia.

Publix launched its COVID vaccine effort in early January at a press conference with VP of Pharmacy Dain Rusk (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right).

The COVID-19 vaccines are administered by Publix Pharmacy at no charge, while supplies last. Customers must schedule an appointment using the publix.com/covidvaccine online reservation system. After receiving the first dose, patients are automatically scheduled to receive their second dose at the same location four weeks later. Though the vaccinations are free, customers must bring their health insurance card or Medicare Part B card to their appointment, and those without health coverage will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number.

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Overall, Publix operates more than 1,000 pharmacies in its 1,268 stores across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The company added that it is working with states in its market area on their COVID vaccine distributions and, when more doses become available, will announce the dates and times its online appointment system opens in each state.