ShopRite Announces Fed Deal To Distribute Coronavirus Vaccine

CONNECTICUT — The ShopRite supermarket chain Monday announced a partnership with federal agencies to distribute the coronavirus vaccine.

The premise is to join forces with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control "to ensure Americans have access to the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available."

According to the announcement, the The Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination Program will provide vaccine coverage to pharmacies across the United States, including select ShopRite pharmacies. Under the federal program, HHS and CDC will work with select ShopRite Pharmacy locations to increase access to coronavirus vaccines in the communities that ShopRite stores serve.

"We're proud to take part in this groundbreaking public health campaign, which could significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19," said Jeffrey Mondelli, the vice president of pharmacy and health and beauty at Wakefern Food Corp., the logistics, distribution and merchandising arm for all ShopRite stores. "The federal program is aiming to mass immunize the population throughout the spring of 2021, and our pharmacists are up to the challenge and ready to help our communities."

Under the federal pharmacy program, select ShopRite Pharmacy stores will soon have the opportunity to provide "increased access to COVID-19 vaccines." ShopRite Pharmacy is also working closely with state and local jurisdictions to participate in earlier phases of the campaign that "aim to reach priority populations, including healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and frontline workers."

ShopRite stores have already been working through the pandemic by adopting safety precautions that include mask mandates, plexiglass panels, temperature checks and limitations on the number of customers in-store.

"We are proud to partner with the CDC and HHS to offer the vaccine to our shoppers at our participating ShopRite Pharmacy locations once it is available,” Mondelli said. "By working with these federal agencies and a network of pharmacy partners, we can help rapidly expand access to COVID-19 vaccines in the neighborhoods served by our ShopRite Pharmacy stores. This is the next step in helping to revitalize our communities.”

The vaccine will be available at select ShopRite Pharmacy locations. Information on which will distribute the vaccine has not been determined yet, officials said.

ShopRite has nearly 280 supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

Shoprite's Connecticut stores include:

• Enfield
• Vernon
• Manchester
• East Hartford
• Canton
• Cromwell
• Southington
• Bristol
• Wallingford
• Handen
• East Haven
• Orange
• Milford
• Derby
• Shelton
• Fairfield
• Stratford
• Norwalk
• Syamford
• Danbury
• Brookfield
• Southbury
• Clinton
• Norwich
• New London