DeSantis: 250k more COVID-19 vaccine doses on the way for seniors, teachers will wait

BAY COUNTY, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis christened a new cluster of church-based COVID-19 vaccination hubs this morning, rushing to get more Florida seniors their first shots.

These recently developed vaccination efforts are now underway in Lynn Haven, Tallahassee, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, St. Lucie, Tampa, and Jacksonville, according to DeSantis.

At a press conference in the Lynn Haven Senior Activity Club, DeSantis said that Florida is scheduled to receive 250,000 additional Moderna doses next week.

While that many first-time doses would be more than enough for the approximately 205,000 full-time instructional staff in Floridian public schools according to the Florida Department of Education, DeSantis said that the shots will still be reserved for people 65 years of age or older:

“That’s what it’s about, it’s about being there for our senior citizens, we’re gonna keep working hard until every senior who wants it is able to get it,” DeSantis said.

When asked about his plan for teachers, DeSantis suggested that they may have to wait until Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine option is granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration:

“That is a one-dose vaccine, you don’t got to put it in the freezer like you do the Pfizer or even the Moderna, so that would be the easiest thing for people in the workforce,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said that Johnson & Johnson is still four to six weeks away from getting their vaccine approved for public use; in Central Florida, thousands of students have already returned to in-person classes from winter break, and educators are getting impatient.

Dan Smith, President of the Seminole Education Association, described the frustration of being kept waiting for COVID-19 vaccines in an interview with our news partner Channel 9 WFTV:

“As we are deemed essential workers, I think that we should be treated like essential workers,” Smith said.

The governor doesn’t appear close to changing his mind so soon:

“We’re going to continue putting seniors first, there’s way more demand from seniors than there’s been supply so far, that will start to change,” DeSantis said.

Back in town, Orlando Health will begin giving the Moderna vaccine to people 65 years of age or older via appointment at six new locations starting Monday Jan. 11, according to a press release:

• Orlando Health Emergency Room – Lake Mary, 380 Rinehart Rd., Lake Mary, FL 32746
• Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Summerport, 5151 Winter Garden Vineland Rd., Windermere, FL 34787
• Orlando Health – Health Central Park – Winter Garden, 411 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787
• Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – St. Cloud, 1330 Budinger Ave., St. Cloud, FL 34769
• Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute – Downtown Orlando, 1222 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32806
• Orlando Health South Lake Hospital Emergency Room – Blue Cedar, 22316 US Highway 27, Leesburg, FL 34748

Due to limited supply, scheduling information will be sent directly to eligible individuals for the time being.

David Strong, president & CEO of Orlando Health, says that “the data” is what compels him to prioritize seniors for first-time COVID-19 vaccines:

“Someone who is 85 is 1,000 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than someone who is 25,” Strong said.

“We know vaccine demand is high and we are working diligently to acquire additional supplies [...] we will open and announce additional appointment availability as vaccine supply becomes available,” Strong said.

If you’re 65 years of age or older and live in Orange County, you can sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine here.

Cox Media Group