3/5/2021

Florida Department of Health Provides Week 12 Updates on Florida’s Vaccination Efforts Under Governor DeSantis’ Leadership

~Florida Expands Vaccine Eligibility to Increase Vaccinations Statewide~

Today, the Florida Department of Health issued an update on the progress of the state's vaccination efforts, as well as its weekly COVID-19 update. The State of Florida is in its twelfth week of vaccine distribution and is continuing to increase vaccine access statewide.

This week, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-47 to expand eligibility for prioritized vaccine populations in the state of Florida. Eligible individuals now include:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff;
• Persons 65 years of age and older;
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact;
• K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older.

Executive Order 21-47 also expands vaccine accessibility for individuals deemed medically vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Governor DeSantis’ administration is taking the necessary steps to ensure the vaccine gets administered as quickly as possible. This week, new actions to continue Florida’s proactive approach to vaccinations includes the following:

Vaccinations:

To provide Floridians with the latest information about vaccinations in the state, the Florida Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccine report that is updated daily. This report includes information on the COVID-19 vaccine by county, race, sex and age. Find the COVID-19 vaccine report here.

As of today, at 7 a.m., 3,362,212 individuals have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Florida; 2,534,074 million are seniors ages 65 and older. 

State of Florida Vaccine Accomplishments To-Date:

Week 12 (Underway)

• Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to K-12 school employees, sworn law enforcement officers and firefighters that are 50 years of age and older through Executive Order 21-47. The EO also outlines expanded eligibility for individuals deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Executive Order 21-47 is available here. The COVID-19 Determination of Extreme Vulnerability Form is available here.
• Governor DeSantis delivered his 2021 State of the State Address this week, highlighting Florida’s successful COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts. Florida continues to lead the way in senior vaccinations, with millions of seniors vaccinated through pop-up vaccination clinics, places of worship, homebound senior visits and more. The State of the State Address is available here.
• This week, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz provided updates on Florida’s vaccination efforts to other states to assist in their vaccination plans. Director Moskowitz spoke about Florida’s successful Seniors First initiatives, as well as the state’s outreach to underserved and minority communities through vaccination clinics at places of worship statewide. Director Moskowitz spoke with each member of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus to continue to identify innovative strategies to increase vaccine access in Black communities.
• At the Governor’s direction, a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site was opened at the SunTrust Bank Building in Pasco County. The SunTrust Bank Building began operating on Wednesday, March 3 and will administer a total of 3,300 vaccines across three days for seniors in the Pasco County area. Governor DeSantis’ announcement is available here.
• Governor DeSantis announced the opening of a pop-up drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site in Crystal River. The site began operating on Thursday, March 4 and will administer a total of 3,300 vaccines across three days for seniors in the Citrus County area. Governor DeSantis’ announcement is available here.
• At the Governor’s direction, a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site was opened at the Lakeshore Mall in Sebring. The Lakeshore Mall began operating on Thursday, March 4 and will administer a total of 3,600 vaccines across three days for seniors in the Highlands County area. Governor DeSantis’ announcement is available here.
• Governor DeSantis announced the opening of a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site in Ocala. The site began operating on Friday, March 5 and will administer a total of 3,300 vaccines across three days for seniors in the Marion County area. Governor DeSantis’ announcement is available here.
• This week, four federally-supported COVID-19 vaccine sites in Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Jacksonville began administering vaccines for eligible individuals. Each federally-supported site has two satellite site locations in underserved communities that can administer up to 500 vaccines per day. Through this hub and spoke model, each group of one primary site and coordinating satellite sites is offering up to 4,000 vaccinations per day. Walk-ups are accepted at all sites. More information is available here.
• At the Governor’s direction, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health continue to identify places of worship and other locations in underserved communities where the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered. To date, more than 66,000 individuals have been vaccinated in partnership with places of worship. This week, the state is hosting another 14 one-day vaccine events with the faith-based community. Find this week’s locations here.
• Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, more than 1,000 vaccination sites have been opened statewide in partnership with local communities and hospitals. The Florida Department of Health continues to identify active vaccine sites. All vaccine sites in Florida are posted on the Florida Department of Health's website here. 

Last week’s accomplishments are available here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.