Publix joins others expanding adult booster shots for Covid-19 vaccinated
LAKELAND — Publix pharmacies are providing Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster doses to eligible individuals ages 18 and older who completed their initial vaccine series at least six months ago, the grocery retailer announced on Monday.
The boosters for all eligible adults were approved last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a Publix press release stated.
The CDC said people ages 50 years and older, and ages 18 years and older who live in a long-term care setting should receive the booster. The CDC said any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be administered for a booster shot.
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For those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within two months, the CDC said those people older than 18 should get a booster. A single dose of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has lower vaccine effectiveness compared with two doses, the CDC said.
The agency also said that any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States can be used for the booster dose of the J&J vaccine.
For further eligibility details, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Publix Pharmacy also continues to offer first and second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, as well as first and booster doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to eligible individuals.
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Individuals can also receive the flu shot at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccination.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations are provided at all in-store Publix Pharmacy locations. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson shots are at select locations.
Customers can use the online reservation system at publix.com/covidvaccine to see if a nearby Publix Pharmacy offers their preferred vaccine.
Vaccines are also available at many other grocery store pharmacies, such as Winn-Dixie stores with a pharmacy inside, as well as drug stores CVS and Walgreens.
The most up-to-date information about Publix’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts can be found at publix.com/covidvaccine.
Individuals can visit vaccines.gov to find the nearest site for receiving the booster injection. Most stores encourage appointments to reduce wait times for walk-in visits and do not take phone reservations.
COVID-19 vaccinations are provided to eligible individuals, while supplies last, and at no cost to the individual, Publix said. Customers with health insurance will need to bring their insurance card. Medicare members should bring their red, white, and blue Medicare Part B card. Customers without health insurance will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number.
The booster shot announcement came days after the retailer said Publix Pharmacy had received the Retail Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Award, presented by Zitter Insights, a division of Managed Markets Insights & Technology, in the Retail Specialty Pharmacy category, for the second time.
Lakeland-based Publix is the nation’s largest employee-owned company, with more than 225,000 employees. It operates 1,283 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Publix also operates nine distribution centers, including seven in Florida, as well as 11 manufacturing plants in Florida and Georgia.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: COVID-19 vaccine booster shots available for adults at Publix stores
