Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Vaccine for seniors may soon be at local Publix
Palm Beach County locations await doses
Palm Beach County could be the first part of South Florida where Publix pharmacies will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older, part of a partnership that is already underway elsewhere in the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis met with county leaders Tuesday in West Palm Beach to discuss rolling out the vaccine to more than 70 Publix stores in Palm Beach County, Commissioner Mack Bernard said.
If finalized, Palm Beach County would be the first large urban county in Florida to offer the shot through Publix stores. Bernard said each store could offer about 100-150 appointments per day, allowing for more than 7,000 seniors to be vaccinated daily.
“Our goal is to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible and work with governor’s office to make sure we are addressing our seniors,” said Bernard, who attended the meeting with County Mayor Dave Kerner and County Administrator Verdenia Baker.
Bernard said he expects a decision from the governor’s office within a week. Presently, Publix stores in South Florida do not have the vaccine, and appointments are not being accepted.
Meredith Beatrice, a DeSantis spokeswoman, described the meeting as a “productive” discussion of vaccine distribution efforts in South Florida. Palm Beach County is home to more than 330,000 people over the age of 65.
“During the meeting, the governor received feedback from the mayor and his team on
opportunities to collaborate on additional vaccination sites, including with Publix, which we hope to announce soon,” she said in an email.
More than 100 Publix pharmacies in 12 counties are offering the vaccine, according to the governor’s office.
Most recently, DeSantis announced stores in Flagler, St. Johns, Volusia and Collier counties would offer the shot.