Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and Florida Department of Health (FDOH) have partnered with Publix Supermarkets to establish COVID-19 vaccination sites. Governor DeSantis made this announcement at the first Publix vaccination site in Ocala.
Through a partnership with FDEM and FDOH, Publix is receiving 15,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to launch a new pilot program at 22 select Publix Supermarkets, beginning Friday, January 8. Appointments can be made beginning Thursday, January 7.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to increase vaccinations and put Florida’s seniors first, I’m pleased to announce this innovative partnership with Publix,” said Governor DeSantis. “At the end of the day, we are all in this together, and the state of Florida thanks Publix for their willingness to step up and lend their infrastructure to this critical cause.”
The 22 pilot locations will be open in three counties: three in Citrus County, 11 in Hernando County, and eight in Marion County.
All vaccinations by Publix at their select locations will be by appointment only. Beginning Thursday, January 7, qualified individuals can make an appointment by visiting www.publix.com/covidvaccine.
The vaccinations will be provided to seniors 65 years of age and older, frontline healthcare workers, as well as staff and residents of long-term care facilities. The vaccinations will be by appointment only. This is all part of Governor DeSantis’ commitment to put Seniors First.
As supplies increase, the reach will increase. The Governor is asking Floridians to please be patient as the state continues to receive shipments of the COVID vaccine.
Florida was the first state in the nation to begin offering vaccines to staff and residents of the state’s over 4,000 long-term care facilities and was the first state in the nation to begin offering vaccines to EMTs and paramedics as well as the first state in the nation to mobilize its county health departments and county emergency managers to actively vaccinate seniors in the community.