Publix Receives Moderna Vaccine; Serves School, Child-Care Staff

FLORIDA — Publix has expanded its COVID-19 vaccine access in Florida and on Wednesday began taking appointments for teachers, other school employees, and child-dare workers.

Publix is among retailers such as CVS, Walmart and Walgreens that fall under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. According to the federal government, these retailers must prioritize these groups for vaccine appointments:

• Teachers, school staff and child care workers who work in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff and bus drivers) and
• Those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.

This went into place Wednesday, officials said. After the prioritized groups make appointments, the remaining appointments will be available to other eligible individuals, according to the Publix website.

The Florida Department of Health reported 1,957,586 positive coronavirus cases Wednesday; 81,564 hospitalizations; and 32,543

In addition to Publix prioritizing school personnel, it will begin administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine along with its Moderna vaccine that it has been administering. This adds the following changes to the grocery store chain's appointment scheduling:

Publix Vaccine Scheduling Days

• Monday scheduling day for appointments Wednesday to Friday; Moderna vaccine only
• Wednesday scheduling day for appointments Saturday and Sunday; Johnson & Johnson vaccine only
• Friday scheduling day for appointments on Monday and Tuesday; Moderna vaccine only

Customers with appointments for their second dose of the Moderna vaccine will not be affected by any changes in scheduling opportunities, and should arrive at the COVID-19 vaccine check-in area at their scheduled date and time, Publix said.

Appointment registrations open at 7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Publix COVID vaccine.

Eligible residents for the COVID-19 vaccine include:

• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Persons under 65 deemed medically vulnerable by a physician
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact
• K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older

As of Monday, March 15, the state is lowering the age to people 60 years of age and older, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday.