Already CVS, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and Sam's Club allow walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccines. Now Publix joins the list. But appointments are still recommended as retailers can only accommodate walk-ins if there is enough vaccine supply. Leon County Health Department spokesperson Pam Saulsby said supply for the vaccine has outstripped demand.
"Many vaccine providers are having to come up with new ways to vaccinate the hard to reach and the hesitant. As much as demand is falling, DOH Leon believes there are still people who very much want to get it but have not been able to," Saulsby said in a statement to WFSU.
Saulsby thinks having an option to get vaccinated with no need for an appointment will help with that.
Appointment-free COVID-19 vaccines are also available at the FAMU vaccine site as well as the Leon County Health Department clinic at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
"We are now working hard to encourage younger adults to step up and get vaccinated," Saulsby said.
According to Florida Department of Health data, 8,378 Leon County residents aged 16 to 24 and 10,496 residents aged 25 to 34 have been fully vaccinated. That's out of a total of 93,735 fully vaccinated residents.
