CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Food City grocery store chain announced on Monday that once a COVID-19 vaccine is available that it will provide vaccinations to the general public for free.
The company says that is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Food City says once an adequate supply of COVID-19 vaccine is available to support broader vaccination efforts beyond the initial critical populations, it will be important to swiftly increase access to the vaccine for the general population.
Through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination, Food City says federal pharmacy partners, like it, will get a direct allocation of COVID-19 vaccine.
Pharmacists are trained to administer vaccines and are trusted vaccinators within their respective communities, as they provide seasonal flu and other routine vaccines as part of their established services.
Food City says with more than 90 percent of the population living within five miles of a pharmacy, pharmacists can be a crucial public health partner, offering convenience and increasing access to COVID-19 vaccine.
“Food City’s immunizing pharmacists are certified to administer vaccinations in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Pharmacists Association and the corresponding state pharmacy associations. Food City offers a number of affordable preventative immunizations, including seasonal flu, pneumonia and shingles shots and has done so for over a decade”, says Mickey Blazer, Food City executive vice president of pharmacy operations.