Madison Clarke
During the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store workers were deemed essential workers and were prioritized for vaccination. Target employees and shoppers were left wondering if they counted as grocery workers and were therefore eligible for the vaccine. Target has over 1,700 stores with CVS pharmacies on site that offer the COVID-19 vaccine to staff and eligible customers. In some cases, Target employees were able to get vaccinated by presenting their Target discount card with the word grocery on it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Target considered a grocery store | Yes, Target carries groceries and has a larger grocery section than some grocery stores |
| Target employees eligible for vaccine | Yes, Target is offering vaccines to its employees at their own pharmacies |
| Target customers eligible for vaccine | Yes, Target is offering vaccines to its customers at its stores |
| Target providing incentives for employees to get vaccinated | Yes, Target is offering hourly frontline employees up to four hours of pay and free Lyft rides to and from their vaccine appointments |
| Target providing incentives for customers to get vaccinated | Yes, Target is paying its customers to get vaccinated |
| States where grocery workers are eligible for vaccine | California, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin |
| States where grocery workers are not eligible for vaccine | Texas, 36 other states |
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What You'll Learn
Target offers COVID-19 vaccines via CVS pharmacies
Target, in partnership with CVS Pharmacy, has made COVID-19 vaccines available at over 600 of its 1700+ stores with CVS Pharmacy departments. This initiative is part of the federal government's retail pharmacy program, which aims to expedite vaccine distribution to the American public. CVS Health operates over 1700 CVS Pharmacy locations inside Target stores, with more than 600 of these offering coronavirus immunizations in 17 states.
Eligible customers and employees can schedule appointments at CVS.com or walk into a CVS Pharmacy at Target to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which require two doses, are provided by CVS. Target has also incentivized its employees to get vaccinated by offering up to four hours of pay and free Lyft rides to and from their vaccine appointments. Additionally, they have offered a $5 coupon to shoppers and associates who receive their COVID-19 vaccination at a CVS at Target pharmacy.
Target has also demonstrated its commitment to public vaccination efforts by supporting initiatives such as the Health Action Alliance and the Ad Council's campaign, which focus on increasing vaccine confidence and reaching underserved communities. Furthermore, Target's Shipt same-day delivery subsidiary launched the Vaccine Payment Program, providing its personal shoppers with stipends for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
While Target has played a significant role in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, it is worth noting that there has been some ambiguity regarding whether Target counts as a grocery store for vaccine eligibility. In some states, grocery workers were given priority for vaccination. In these cases, Target employees were considered eligible due to the company's large grocery sections, even though they sell other products as well.
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Target workers are eligible for the vaccine in some states
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the indispensable role of grocery store workers, who have been on the frontlines since the beginning of the crisis. Despite this, the vaccine rollout in the United States has been inconsistent, with policies differing from state to state, and even county to county in some areas. This has resulted in many grocery workers being left out of the initial vaccine priority groups, leaving them feeling let down and worried about their health and safety.
In some states, Target workers have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those who work in the grocery section of the store. For example, in California, food and grocery workers were eligible for the vaccine, and since Target carries groceries, its employees were included in this category. Similarly, in New York, when grocery employees were eligible for the vaccine, a Target worker was able to get vaccinated without even being asked for proof of employment. In Pennsylvania, grocery workers were eligible in Phase 1B, which may have included Target employees depending on their specific role in the store.
To encourage employees to get vaccinated, Target has provided incentives such as up to four hours of pay (two hours for each dose) and free Lyft rides to and from vaccine appointments. Target has also partnered with CVS Pharmacy to make about a third of its stores COVID-19 vaccination destinations. Eligible customers and employees can schedule appointments at CVS to receive their vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy at Target location.
While the situation is improving, with some states and counties prioritizing grocery workers, there is still a lack of consistency in the vaccine rollout for this essential workforce across the United States.
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Target provides incentives for employees to get vaccinated
Target has provided various incentives for employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Firstly, the company is offering up to four hours of pay for employees to get vaccinated, which equates to two hours of pay for each vaccine dose. This policy also applies to Target's Shipt same-day delivery subsidiary, which allows its personal shoppers to apply for a $50 stipend for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, Target has partnered with Lyft to provide free rides to and from vaccine appointments, covering up to $15 each way. Target has also stated that it will continue to support public vaccine education initiatives, such as the Health Action Alliance and the Ad Council's campaign, which focuses on reaching communities of colour that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Target has also made it convenient for employees to get vaccinated by partnering with CVS Pharmacy. More than 600 of its 1,700-plus stores with CVS Pharmacy departments have begun administering coronavirus shots in 17 states. Eligible employees can schedule appointments at CVS to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy at Target. This partnership with CVS is not new, as Target has supported CVS-administered vaccinations for the flu, shingles, and pneumonia in previous years.
In addition to these incentives, Target has also made efforts to support its employees' overall health and well-being. The company offers comprehensive health benefits, including medical, vision, and dental coverage for eligible team members. Target also provides industry-leading education support through its Dream to Be program, which offers access to certificate, bootcamp, and degree programs, many of which are tuition-free. Furthermore, Target is a proud pay leader in retail and offers competitive pay for its employees.
While Target has implemented these incentives to encourage vaccination among its employees, it is worth noting that the eligibility for vaccine incentives may vary based on the state and county in which the employee resides or works. In some cases, employees may need to provide proof of employment to demonstrate their eligibility as grocery workers, as grocery workers were prioritised for vaccination in certain states.
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Target workers can get vaccinated at their own pharmacies
Target has provided several incentives to encourage its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In February, the company announced that its hourly frontline employees would receive up to four hours of pay (two hours for each dose) and free Lyft rides to and from their vaccine appointments. Target has also offered its personal shoppers up to $50 in stipends for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine through its Shipt same-day delivery subsidiary's Vaccine Payment Program.
Target has also partnered with CVS Pharmacy to make about a third of its stores COVID-19 vaccination destinations. More than 600 of its 1,700-plus stores with CVS Pharmacy departments have begun administering coronavirus shots in 17 states. Eligible Target employees can schedule appointments at CVS.com to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy at Target location, based on availability.
Target workers have also been offered vaccines at their own pharmacies as soon as they are eligible. In some states, Target employees have been able to get vaccinated at their stores. For example, a Target employee in New York shared that they were able to get the vaccine when grocery employees were eligible in the state. They were asked where they worked and did not have to provide proof of employment.
In some states, grocery workers have been prioritized for the vaccine. For instance, in California, food and grocery workers were eligible for the vaccine in March 2021. However, in other states, grocery workers have not been prioritized, and in 37 states, they were not eligible to get vaccinated as of February 2021. The vaccine eligibility criteria and rollout strategies have varied across states and counties, resulting in inconsistent access to vaccines for grocery workers.
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Target workers are considered grocery workers
In some states, such as California, food and grocery workers are eligible for the vaccine. In other states, like Texas, grocery workers have been left out of the second phase of the vaccination effort, with priority given to older adults and those with health conditions. Target employees have received the vaccine by showing proof of their employment, such as a Target discount card, which has been accepted by pharmacists.
Target has also been providing COVID-19 vaccines via CVS pharmacies in its stores. Eligible customers and employees can schedule appointments to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine at these locations. Target has also offered incentives to its employees to get vaccinated, including up to four hours of pay (two hours for each dose) and free rides to and from their vaccine appointments.
Despite these efforts, many Target workers have faced challenges in accessing the vaccine. Inconsistent eligibility criteria and a lack of clear communication have contributed to this issue. As a result, Target workers, like many other grocery workers, have had to navigate the complex vaccine landscape to determine their eligibility and access vaccination appointments.
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Frequently asked questions
Target is not considered a grocery store, but it has partnered with CVS Pharmacy to provide COVID-19 vaccines at select stores. Target has also offered various incentives for its employees to get vaccinated, including paid time off and free Lyft rides to and from their vaccine appointments.
In the US, the eligibility of grocery store workers for the vaccine has varied across states and counties. While some states prioritized grocery workers in the initial phases of the rollout, others did not. This has resulted in a patchwork of policies, with grocery workers in many states still waiting for their turn to receive the vaccine.
No, both eligible Target customers and employees can schedule appointments to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy at Target.
