Posted on 06/22/2022 10:56:26 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Since COVID-19 vaccines first became available, Publix has played a major role in tackling the public health emergency in Florida by offering vaccines to adults and, later, children as young as 5.
But the Lakeland grocery company says it will not offer the vaccine approved for children ages 4 and under “at this time.”
Spokesperson Hannah Herring said Tuesday that Publix will not release a statement explaining its decision. The company’s website indicates that it is still accepting COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5 and up.
The company still offers other child vaccinations, including the flu shot for babies as young as 6 months.
The vaccine rollout for the nation’s youngest children has been complicated in Florida, where state leaders have questioned the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, going against the recommendations of the nation’s top health regulators and medical associations.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recommended against giving vaccines to healthy children, contrary to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Florida was the only state in the nation not to preorder doses of the under 5 vaccine, which the White House said could delay delivery to medical providers in the state. Parents of children under 18 months must rely on pediatricians, medical clinics and children’s hospitals to get their kids vaccinated.
Publix is not affected because it is enrolled in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which means it orders vaccine doses directly from the federal government.
The governor tapped Publix to become a key part of Florida’s vaccine rollout in early 2021. By that April, the grocery chain was the single largest vaccine supplier in Florida and was getting nearly a quarter of the state’s doses.
The company is Florida’s largest private employer and a regular donor to political campaigns of both major political parties, though its donations skew Republican. It donated $100,000 to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s political committee in early 2021.
Publix’s decision not to vaccinate young children puts it at odds with Walmart, one of its main competitors in the Southeast. Walmart plans to provide vaccines to kids ages 3 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 and distribution allows,” said Walmart spokesperson Tyler Thomason in an email.
South Tampa mother of two Samantha Thompson was able to book a vaccination appointment for her 3-year-old son at her local Publix on Tuesday. Then she received a phone call informing her that her chosen location was not authorized to vaccinate children under 5.
Now she’ll have to cross the bay next week to vaccinate her son at a Walgreens in Seminole, which she said was the closest appointment she could find.
“It’s frustrating, because there is so much confusion,” Thompson said. “Throughout this whole process, it feels like our interests are not being looked out for.”
Yay! That’s my Publix!
Watch the feds deny them medical reimbursements or some such.
Part D will take a hit.
Ron DeSantis should ban the vaxx in Florida.
That post will be somewhat confusing, because Medicare
obviously doesn’t cover kid vaccines. The problem is,
if a pharmacy group decides not to comply with CDC and
NIH guidelines, it could still result in that pharmacy
being disqualified to service seniors.
“Oh, you won’t play along with our vaccine programs?
Okay, you are no longer authorized for Medicare
business.”
Governor DeSantis chose NOT to accept the child vaccines for his state!
God bless him!
Agreed. If there was a segment of our society that clearly
does not need this vaccine, it’s kids. I’d include teens
in that also. I’d also include young adults
These segments of our society, are not under dire threat
by COVID.
The stats just do not support otherwise.
I have received similar emails from the pharmacies at Safeway and QFC (Kroger).
The Covidians would have the vaccine injected in utero if it were possible.
So they will kill kids 5 or older. Great.
At some point the little ones will reach 5 and then get the death shots.
If everyone will be dead, who will give the shots?
The ones who took the saline.
Yes it is quite a racket…you better play along to get along crime syndicate.
5 and under are getting it now!
Yay
Jesse Kelly (iHeart radio) says, “I don’t give medical advice, but don’t vaccinate your >5-y-o kids!
Yeah…
They had great subs for a grocery store.
At least around the early 2000’s when I ate them…
Unfortunately ( for me) they have a fantastic bakery……even their vegan peanut butter cookies are delicious!
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