Florida’s Exclusive Vax Deal With Grocer Questioned

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

As Floridians get increasingly antsy for COVID vaccines, there are growing questions about why Gov. Ron DeSantis granted Publix exclusive rights to provide vaccines in some places. Why only Publix, whose vaccine-appointment portal filled up 90 minutes after opening Wednesday?

It’s only natural to wonder — especially after reading stories like: “Publix Vaccine Rollout Follows Grocer’s $100K Donation To DeSantis’ Political Committee.” It just seems like Florida would want more partners. Like maybe Walgreens and CVS. Both chains have even more stores in Florida than Publix.

A Walgreens spokesman responded: “The State of Florida has not requested that Walgreens distribute vaccines in Florida at this time.” Huh. Then again, Walgreens only donated $25,000 to DeSantis’ campaign committee last cycle, and a paltry $140,000 statewide.

Read the full article.

Even if there was no tit for tat with Publix, Florida needs help with its vaccination efforts.
We’re behind in distribution.

I asked Walgrens why it wasn’t involved.
Walgreens said: Florida didn’t ask us.
We need all the soldiers we can get in this battlehttps://t.co/ANDWniagdB

— Scott Maxwell (@Scott_Maxwell) January 27, 2021