Big Y in the News
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates 84 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 71 supermarkets, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 10 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a "Y".
Big Y in the News contains excerpts from press releases that have been sent to local media.
Over 100,000 Vaccinations by Big Y Over Past Year
Big Y Pharmacy Teams Set Record
SPRINGFIELD, MA [March 1, 2022] – As Big Y embarks on the anniversary of their first year’s major effort to vaccinate their community in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, they have tallied the numbers for a combined total of 105,000 vaccinations. These shots include 12 different types of vaccines including COVID, seasonal flu, Shingrix, pneumonia, T Dap, Hepatitis A and B, meningococcal, MMR and HPV. In total, they have administered about 75,000 COVID vaccines including regular and boosters of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, about 25,000 seasonal flu shots and about 5,000 of their other offerings. Prior to this massive effort, Big Y’s pharmacists administered about 22,000 vaccines a year.
In addition to their immunization program at each Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center, they are proud to have offered over 200 off-site vaccine clinics in order to further their assistance within their community. These clinics include public and private schools, senior centers, nursing homes, manufacturing plants, local businesses and other facilities in order to provide more convenience, access and availability. As another part of their initiative, they’ve held several Big Y Big Vax Week events for customers, employees and their families in order to make it even easier to get one of their many vaccines offered.
Big Y pharmacists continue to follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines as they have expanded throughout this past year. These changes encompass age and product availability updates as soon as they are released.
Big Y’s president and CEO, Charles L. D’Amour is eager to congratulate his professional pharmacy team on their enormous accomplishment this past year. “We are so very proud of our pharmacy team’s continued efforts to promote the health of our communities. Their dedication to our neighborhoods is another way we showcase Big Y’s legacy of caring. By reaching a new milestone of 105,000 combined vaccines last year, we are grateful for the trust our friends and neighbors have in us.”
Another unique element of Big Y’s vaccination program has been the ability to provide valuable clinical experience for health care students at local colleges such as Elms College School of Nursing, Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Gateway’s and Porter and Chester Institute’s Nursing Programs.
Christi Masciadrelli, Pharmacist at Cooley Street Big Y in Springfield, Chris Krupa, MA Pharmacy Operations, Samuel Baidoo, Pharmacist at Cooley Street Big Y in Springfield