Grocers Albertson’s, Safeway, Fry’s to offer COVID vaccine to walk-ins

PHOENIX – Grocery chains Albertson’s, Safeway and Fry’s announced their Arizona pharmacies will be providing walk-in COVID-19 vaccines, including for ages 12-15, starting Thursday.

First appointments were available in Arizona at 8 a.m. A federal health panel approved children in that age group to receive the emergency-use Pfizer vaccine Wednesday.

The stores join major pharmacies Walgreens and CVS in also offering appointments to ages 12 and older.

The youngest of the eligible groups must bring a parent or guardian to verify their age wherever they go for the shot, just as is required at the state-run sites.

For details about statewide COVID-19 vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page showing locations and registration information.

For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has a locator page that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events.

The minimum age to receive other vaccines, Moderna and the one-shot from Johnson & Johnson, is still 18.

Spots at the state-run sites can be secured at https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/ or by calling 844-542-8201. A new batch of appointments for the following week at those locations, which use the Pfizer vaccine, are released every Friday.

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