Publix’s next sign-up will prioritize teachers

Teachers will now get priority for the COVID-19 vaccine, and they’ll get a choice of vaccines, too, depending which day they choose to sign up, Publix announced Monday.

The priority to the front of the line, which includes bus drivers, school staff and child care workers, will start with Wednesday’s 7 a.m. sign-up at publix.com/covidvaccine.

Publix is taking direction from the federal government, which oversees the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.

“After those in the prioritized group are finished making appointments, any remaining appointments will be available to other eligible individuals,” said a Publix spokeswoman in a prepared statement.

Those other eligible groups include firefighters and police age 50 and older, and seniors age 65 and older, and any adults “determined to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by a physician, and who completes a state form, signed by a doctor, that is available on the Florida Department of Health website.

Publix is offering both the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines and people have a choice between the two depending on which day they sign up.

Every Monday and Friday sign-ups will be for Moderna vaccines; and every Wednesday, online scheduling will be dedicated exclusively for appointments to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, officials said.

In Florida, Publix joins CVS, Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Walgreens within the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. This week, those pharmacies will share 156,000 doses for distribution, Kate Grusich, spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made several adjustments to the eligibility criteria in recent days. Starting next Monday, he said he’s lowering the age for COVID vaccination from 65 to 60.

On Thursday, DeSantis said the federal mandate that allows teachers, day care and preschool workers of all ages to get vaccinated would be followed. An executive order issued by the governor the week before had opened vaccine eligibility only to K-12 teachers 50 and older.