Publix to begin administering COVID-19 vaccine at some stores in SC

INDIAN LAND, S.C. — Wednesday in South Carolina, select Publix grocery stores will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time.

Each of the South Carolina Publix locations have 100 vaccines they will start giving out Wednesday, but first you needed to secure an appointment and some said this was no easy task.

It was anticipated the appointments would go fast, and reporter Gina Esposito said that shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, all appointments in York and Lancaster counties were already filled.

>> CLICK HERE to make your appointment with Publix

In order to book your spot, you needed to find your county, fill out a questionnaire and click submit. If there was availability, you got a confirmation email within minutes.

One woman told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura she woke up early Tuesday to wait for the online portal to go live so she could make her mother’s appointment. She said in seconds, the site flashed from appointments available to fully booked.

“I was panicking going ‘There’s just no way that this many people have logged in,’” Sarah McLester said.

Since Publix is already offering COVID-19 vaccinations at its pharmacies in Florida and Georgia, McLester expected a smooth process. But like most vaccine appointments, they were gone in a matter of hours.

“I was like ‘I can’t believe it’s 30 seconds later and it’s already full,’” McLester said. “So, I just said ‘OK, I’m gonna keep doing this.’ I kept going back and going back and finally I got into the queue.”

County-by-county guide: Here’s when, where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine

After all her attempts, her patience and persistence secured her mother an appointment Wednesday morning. She said despite the wait and frustration, she is relieved her mom is next in line.

“We’ve really been wanting to get her in there as soon as possible so this was a real big day for that,” McLester said.

These vaccines are only for people who fall under South Carolina’s Phase 1B, which is people age 70 and older, health care workers and employees of long-term care facilities.

In order to get your vaccine, you will need to show some form of identification.

>> CLICK HERE to read more about South Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccination program

“We’re going to ask that you provide some sort of documentation when you show up for your appointment,” Publix spokesperson Jared Glover said. “Whether that’s a driver’s license, social security number, proof of employment. We want to make sure that you have documentation so that you fall in line with the eligibility for South Carolina.”

If you have health insurance, you are asked to bring your insurance card with you. This is by appointment only, while supplies last and it is all free.

When it comes time for your second dose, just like the initial confirmation email, you will receive another email when you’re due for the second dose.

A spokesperson for Publix told Channel 9 they are talking with North Carolina officials to rollout the vaccine service, but so far, there is no timeline on when that might happen.