Re: Publix wrong for giving flu shots before set time, Oct. 14 letter to the editor:
Editor: In reply to Dorilie McGonigle's letter, the flu shots were not started until 10 a.m., as posted. Publix had more than 300 people lined up all the way from our door to the end of the shopping center by 7:30 a.m. Some people did show up as early as 4 a.m.
We had 350 shots, so we started handing out numbers around 7:45 a.m., and by 8:05 all 350 numbers were handed out. These people waited from three to four hours for their number, and again some people who showed up as the numbers were running out waited for three to four hours to get their shot because they were told to be back at 1:30 p.m., but did not get their shot until 5 p.m.
All of these people were told the same thing as Ms. McGonigle - that the shots were not available until 10 a.m. They were the ones who chose to show up that early. If you showed up at 8:30 a.m., you would have been around the 450th person in line just to find out later that all the shots were gone.
In the past we have done this with no problem as a community service. This year was different. Publix has stopped giving them after all of these problems, but unfortunately the decision wasn't made until Wednesday.
Darin Dampier, manager, Lakewood Plaza Publix store
-- Publix is a good corporate citizen
Editor: I'm writing to let everyone know what a good corporate citizen Publix supermarkets is.
I went with a friend to the Publix store at Seven Hills at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday (the night before the flu shots scheduled for the next day at 3 p.m.). We were greeted by the manager, Bobby Frank, who told us that if we needed anything to just let him know. We were able to use the restroom during the night as the line grew to more than 300 by daylight.
With more than 300 people in line at 6 a.m. and only 250 shots available, there was no need to wait on issuing our tickets. Store manager Mike Hardin issued our tickets an hour-and-a-half earlier than planned; that made everyone happy.
We went back at 2:30 p.m. for our shots, and everything went very smoothly. We are grateful to Publix for its public service.
-- David Gottdiner, Spring Hill
Publix cares about community
Editor: My wife received her flu shot at the Seven Hills Publix. I am so grateful we have in our area a supermarket that cares so much for the people in this community.
I was in line at 5 a.m. to get a number because we were told that 250 shots would be available. I was No. 125 when the tickets were given out.
The manager at Publix, Michael Hardin, was there at that time and allowed the people waiting to use the restrooms; he was very cooperative. At 6:30 a.m. there were about 250-plus people in line. The tickets were distributed at that time, and a suggested time was given to get your shot because the shots would be available starting at 3 p.m.
The whole operation could not have been handled better. I am eternally grateful for the courtesy and professionalism shown by Publix and its employees, and they deserve a large measure of thanks from our community in Spring Hill.
-- Murray Shulman, Spring Hill
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