Posted on 06/23/2022 12:20:42 PM PDT by lightman
Florida-based supermarket chain Publix said Tuesday that it will not provide COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of 5 after authorizations were handed down by federal health agencies.
Spokesperson Hannah Herring told the Tampa Bay Times that the company will not be providing vaccines for kids aged 6 months to 4 years “at this time.” Herring said the company will not be providing an explanation for the decision.
The company’s website says that it will provide COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 and older. Publix’s pharmacies are still offering influenza vaccines and other, traditional vaccines for young children, according to its website.
The Epoch Times has contacted Publix, which has the majority of its stores in Florida, for comment.
A spokesperson for CVS told Fox News that the company will offer vaccines for children younger than 5, while Walgreens told Fox 13 in Tampa Bay that children ages 3 and older can receive the vaccine across the United States, including in Florida.
And a spokesperson for Walmart told the Tampa Bay Times that it will give vaccines to kids aged 4 and older.
“While we expect the majority of these vaccines to be distributed to pediatric providers, we plan to administer authorized vaccines for ages 3–5 as supply as distribution allows,” said Walmart spokesperson Tyler Thomason.
Last week, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) handed down an emergency authorization to give Pfizer’s and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines to children aged 6 months and older. The agencies in October 2021 similarly approved an emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years of age, although federal data suggests that only about 29 percent of children in that age group are fully vaccinated. Florida Stands Firm
Publix’s decision comes as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration said that health officials in Florida will not be ordering COVID-19 vaccines for small children after the emergency approvals were given.
“Florida is not placing any orders of COVID shots for zero to 5-year-old babies and kids,” DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw posted on Twitter. “What they have couched as a reversal is actually the governor’s steadfast position that … Florida does not recommend, nor distribute, shots for babies. Health care providers that want the vaccines can obtain them and any parent who wants it for their child can get it.”
And during an event several days later, DeSantis told a crowd on June 20 that his government doesn’t recommend shots for small children.
“We recommend against [vaccinating babies],” the Republican governor told the crowd. “We are not going to have any program where we’re trying to jab 6-month-old babies with mRNA. That’s just the reality.”
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, meanwhile, echoed DeSantis’s recommendation.
“We recommended against COVID-19 vax for healthy children in March [because] there was no strong evidence of benefit. This remains the same for healthy kids [under] 5,” he wrote on Twitter. “Providers have always been able to order vaccines. This never changed.”
I think Publix knows that DeSantis has their back. screw biden.
“I think Publix knows that DeSantis has their back. screw biden.”
I agree.
All during the Trump years, places like Publix had a ‘free Rx’ list. That all ended in the past year as business are struggling to stay afloat. Thank you bidden
Joe, your FL ping list is always a bright spot during these dark days!
We are in 8 states now.
“at this time.”
They always cave.
I do, and things like this make me glad I moved down here last November.
If I could actually afford it, I’d start shopping there again.
Good for Publix. If I recall correctly, it was thisoutfit that the MSM lied about in getting the vax out early on. MSM tried to make out that there was some sort of collusion twixt them and DeSantis — and delivery of the vax was delayed. Just more MSM lies.
Publix has cared about Floridians for decades... it’s not surprising they’re being careful with our children and grandchildren.
Thanks Publix....
Could be many Pharmacists are telling them they won’t give the shots to babes and Publix figures it isn’t worth losing pharmacy help over.
Hang in there TSR!
Hang in there!
I have a job until July 29.
Then what happens?
that and optics.
i think private retail businesses offering these is insane from a branding and risk management perspective, but clearly most of them disagree.
Hopefully pick up another one. My current company is hoping to get me onto a contract near where I live (Pensacola), but another company is contemplating creating a job and apparently thinks I could be a good fit for it, but both of these things are uncertain.
It will work out for you, TSR!
Eagles Up!
We’re getting a Publix about 40 minutes away, whereas we used to have to drive to Tallahassee, almost a four hour round trip, plus “time on station.” In other words, all the damn day!
:^)
We’d shop there when we visited and they were more expensive than other places.
Publix might not be the only store with that policy though. Seems like many places are reluctant to vax children.
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