Federal direction requires prioritization of all K-12 and child care teachers and personnel

LAKELAND, Fla., March 8, 2021 — At the direction of the federal government, retailers participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program must prioritize the following individuals for vaccine appointments until further notice:

• 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.

Publix will follow this new directive during its next COVID-19 vaccine scheduling opportunity in South Carolina, Tuesday, March 9. Some pharmacy locations included in previous distributions are not included this time; however, they might receive vaccine doses in the future.

After those in the prioritized group are finished making appointments, any remaining appointments will be available to other eligible individuals.

Eligibility
In accordance with state and federal requirements, the following groups are currently eligible to receive vaccinations: all K-12 and child care teachers and personnel (the prioritized group referenced earlier); caregivers for medically fragile children with a medical provider’s signed attestation to confirm a caregiver meets the criteria; front-line workers with increased occupational risk; health care and community health workers with routine, direct patient contact; individuals ages 55 and older; individuals at increased risk in settings where people are living and working in close contact; individuals with increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease; residents and staff of long-term care facilities; and South Carolina state/local government employees and contractors who are critical to the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.

Appointments
Vaccinations are provided for any individual who meets state and federal requirements, with priority given to school and child care teachers and personnel as directed by the federal government, by appointment only, while supplies last, through the online reservation system at publix.com/covidvaccine. The system will open Tuesday, March 9, at 7 a.m. Eastern time for appointments Thursday, March 11, through Wednesday, March 17, excluding Saturday and Sunday. Appointments cannot be made by phone.

Locations
Publix pharmacies will administer the vaccine in the following counties, while supplies last: Aiken, Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Horry, Jasper, Lancaster, Lexington, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg and York. View a full list of South Carolina pharmacies offering appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. Customers can also use the online reservation system to learn if appointments are available at their nearby store.

Publix pharmacies have also administered the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals in select Florida, Georgia and Virginia locations. The company continues to communicate with the states in its operating area to provide COVID-19 vaccinations as part of their distribution efforts.

Costs and insurance
Vaccinations are administered to eligible individuals, by appointment only, while supplies last, and at no cost to the individual. Customers with health insurance will need to bring their insurance card to their scheduled appointment. 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 most up-to-date information about Publix’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts can be found at publix.com/covidvaccine.