Walmart, Winn-Dixie Offer COVID Vaccines Before Valentine's Day

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Pharmacy chains and grocery store sites with pharmacies will begin offering coronavirus vaccines on Friday, Feb. 12, at 490 pharmacy locations across 52 counties in Florida, Gov. Ron Desantis said.

“Florida is proud to partner with Walmart and other retailers, including Publix, to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” DeSantis told reporters at a Jacksonville Walmart store on Tuesday. “Through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, we look forward to reaching more Floridians and ensuring that all eligible residents who want a vaccine are able to receive one. We will continue to utilize strategic partnerships and identify innovative ways to get more shots in arms and put Florida’s seniors first.”

Publix was the first pharmacy retail location that offered the vaccine to Florida seniors. In addition to Walmart/Sam's Club and Publix, Winn-Dixie has also partnered with the state to offer vaccines.

The sites were selected based on a number of factors including the number of stores and the ability to reach prioritized populations, the governor's news release said.

In accordance with Executive Order 20-315, these sites will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all individuals 65 years of age and older, as well as frontline health care workers.

The increase in pharmacy locations offering the vaccine comes as Florida's positive coronavirus cases have climbed to 7,023 within 24 hours, according to the Florida Department of Health. As of Tuesday, the state's total cases is at 1,790, 743 since the start of the pandemic. Coronavirus-related deaths are at 27,570, and coronavirus hospitalizations are 74,884.

The number of sites and the counties participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program are listed below:

• Winn-Dixie — 43 locations (Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Putnam, Sarasota, Sumter, Volusia)
• Walmart and Sam’s Club— 119 locations (Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Escambia, Gadsden, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Marion, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie, Sumter, Wakulla)
• Publix – 593 locations — (Alachua, Bay, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwanee, Volusia and Walton)

Each of these locations has a designated site to book appointments.

• Winn-Dixie – https://www.winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine
• Walmart and Sam’s Club – http://www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine and http://www.samsclub.com/covid
• Publix – https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida

If you are a senior or a first-responder and want to get the vaccine, an appointment must be made via online.