Florida’s partnership with Publix grocery store chain to administer COVID-19 vaccine doses is expanding and will now include 16 Publix locations in Collier County.
During a media briefing in Ponte Vedra Beach Wednesday morning, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that beginning Wednesday, Jan 13, people 65 and older can make appointments to receive the vaccine at the newly announced locations through Publix online at publix.com/covidvaccine. Vaccine administration at the newly added Publix pharmacy locations, including those in Collier County, begins Thursday.
Last week’s initial rollout of vaccines being offered through Publix pharmacies included 23 stores in Citrus, Marion and Hernando Counties. Earlier this week, that expanded to include 26 more Publix locations in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties in the Florida Panhandle.
The new Publix vaccine distribution sites announced Wednesday include 14 stores in St. John’s County, 4 in Flagler, 22 in Volusia and 16 sites throughout Collier County including:
Marco Town Center 1089 N. Collier Blvd. Marco Island, FL
Shoppes at Hammock Cove 4370 Thomasson Drive Naples, FL
Berkshire Commons 7101 Radio Road Naples, FL
Riverchase Shopping Center 11200 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL
Crossroads Market Shopping Center 5991 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL
Pine Ridge Crossing Shopping Center 2310 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL
Freedom Square 12663 Tamiami Trail E. Naples, FL
Pelican Strand 5624 Strand Blvd. Naples, FL
Naples Walk 2450 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples, FL
The Shoppes at Pebblebrook 15265 Collier Blvd. Naples, FL
Naples Lakes Village Center 8585 Collier Blvd. Naples, FL
Brooks Village 12975 Collier Blvd. Naples, FL
Marketplace at Pelican Bay 8833 North Tamiami Trail Naples, FL
Naples Plaza 1981 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL
Kings Lake Square 4860 Davis Blvd. Naples, FL
Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree 13550 Immokalee Road Naples, FL
During Wednesday’s media briefing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Governor DeSantis touted the state’s vaccine rollout so far. “We have now done in the state of Florida, there’s been reported close to 400,000 seniors have received vaccines. That’s the most of any state by a country mile and that’s just what’s being reported,” said DeSantis.
“We’re the only state that’s done a majority of our vaccines for seniors and we’ve done now 60% of all reported shots have gone to people 65 and up and that percentage is going to increase each week.”
DeSantis repeated his stance that prioritizing seniors over essential workers in the initial vaccine rollout is the right decision. On Tuesday Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the federal government is directing states to use their vaccine supplies to start vaccinating individuals age 65 and older as well as anyone with a comorbidity that puts them at risk.
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