Southeastern Grocers readies COVID shots in Florida

Southeastern Grocers next week plans to administer an allocation of Moderna COVID-19 in selected stores across Florida.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based food and drug chain said late yesterday that it’s “in final preparations” to provide 8,100 of the vaccinations at no cost on Feb. 11 in Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket pharmacies through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. 

The Biden administration announced the program earlier this week to supply coronavirus immunizations directly to supermarket, drugstore, mass merchant and other retail pharmacy locations. Southeastern Grocers was named as a retail partner in the program. 

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to being a store our customers can always count on, not just for their groceries, but as an advocate for their health and wellness as the pandemic continues to overwhelm our communities,” President and CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement. “We are all in this together, and as availability continues to expand, our expert pharmacists stand ready to begin vaccinations throughout the communities we serve to help combat the coronavirus across the Southeast.” 

In line with Florida health authority guidelines, Southeastern Grocers said it will initially offer the free vaccines to health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, as well as to seniors, while supplies last. 

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Those eligible can find out about COVID vaccination availability and schedule appointments for a shot online at winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine, harveyssupermarkets.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine and frescoymas.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine. Although the vaccines are free, people with health coverage must provide their health insurance card at their appointment, and those without insurance will need to present a valid driver’s license or social security card. 

Southeastern Grocers said it’s providing the coronavirus shots in partnership with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“The State of Florida is proud to partner with Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarkets to provide eligible Floridians across the state access to the vaccine,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated. “We look forward to collaborating and expanding these efforts, together.” 

As more vaccine allocations become available from state and federal sources, Southeastern Grocers said it plans to administer additional free COVID vaccines “directly to the front line” at all of in-store pharmacies. In the coming months, the company also will provide more vaccinations at pharmacy locations and coordinate drive-thru clinics to provide free coronavirus immunizations in underserved communities. 

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Overall, Southeastern Grocers operates over 500 supermarkets in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Mississippi under the Winn-Dixie, Harveys, Fresco y Más adn Bi-Lo banners. That includes 231 in-store pharmacies, 159 of which are in Florida.