‘Brings ease of mind’: Grocery store employees now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

CHARLOTTE — From exotic foods to classic staples, there’s something for everyone at Super G Mart in southeast Charlotte. For more than 10 years, Super G Mart has been one of the city’s most prominent international grocery stores.

“We try to cater to a wide variety of people,” manager Paul Han said. “We stay open 365. We haven’t had a single day closed.”

Han said he is proud that even as the pandemic raged on, customers could rely on the store to be open. Han credits his hardworking and dedicated staff.

“We did struggle with a lot of employees not feeling personally safe coming back to work while their families are required to stay home,” Han said.

Employees now have a new option to stay safe from COVID-19: a vaccine. All grocery store workers are eligible to get a shot, and Han said his staff is eager.

“When we opened this morning, we already had employees coming in and asking how they can get signed up,” he said.

[EXPLAINER: Who can get vaccinated and how can you make an appointment?]

There will be a lot of competing for COVID-19 shots in the coming weeks. More than 1.2 million people are estimated to be in Group 3. Vaccination efforts are not closed to being finished in Groups 1 and 2.

The Mecklenburg County Health Department is opening additional vaccine appointments on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The appointments are for people in Groups 1-3 and can be made for March 10-31. To make an appointment, click here or call 980-314-9400 and select Option 3 for English and Option 8 for Spanish.

Making an appointment may be a challenge in the coming weeks, but Han is grateful his employees will soon be able to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“We had to put our daily lives on the front line,” he said. “Finally, being in the group, I think, brings ease of mind.”

For more information on making a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through Mecklenburg County, click here.

All NC frontline essential workers in Group 3 can get COVID-19 vaccine this week

Cox Media Group