INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Vero Beach Winn-Dixie, along with additional pharmacies across the state, will begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine Friday through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, state officials announced Tuesday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday expanded the COVID-19 vaccination distribution sites to include 490 extra pharmacy locations – including Winn Dixie, Publix, Walmart and Sam’s Club – across 52 counties. State officials said they obtained the retail partnerships and collaborated to identify strategic locations for each store to ensure maximum reach.
“Florida is proud to partner with Walmart and other retailers, including Publix, to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, we look forward to reaching more Floridians and ensuring that all eligible residents who want a vaccine are able to receive one. We will continue to utilize strategic partnerships and identify innovative ways to get more shots in arms and put Florida’s seniors first.”
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 vaccination is a collaboration between the federal government, states and territories, and 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks, state officials said. The partnership aims to increase access to COVID-19 vaccination across the U.S.
The expansion comes two weeks after DeSantis appeared in Vero Beach and announced that eight Publix pharmacies in Indian River County would distribute the vaccine. The new announcement now includes the Vero Beach Winn-Dixie pharmacy, located at 2950 S.W. 9th Street, as a vaccine distributor.
It also adds 269 new Publix pharmacy locations and 119 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across Florida as vaccine distributors. To date, more than 330 vaccination sites have been opened statewide through partnerships with local communities and hospitals, officials said.
The state was expected to receive 65,300 doses of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine this week. Publix locations previously receiving doses from the state will now get the vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, officials said.
Appointments are required at each location. Appointments can be made on the pharmacies’ websites.
COVID-19 vaccine information on pharmacy websites