Florida has once again expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, lowering the requirement for getting the shot from 50 to 40 on Monday.
Residents ages 40 and older are now eligible to get the vaccine at all locations in the Sunshine State.
Officials at the FEMA vaccine site at Miami-Dade College's North Campus said they expect larger crowds as the eligibility age lowers, but said they can handle it.
In the few weeks the FEMA site has been open, it's done tens of thousands of shots.
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And starting April 5, all residents 18 and older will be eligible for the vaccine,, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last Thursday.
“We have now vaccinated over 70% of the roughly 4.4 million seniors living in the state,” DeSantis said in a video released by his office. “And we are ready to take this step.”
Anyone ages 16 and 17 will need signed permission from their parents or guardians.
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DeSantis said more than 400 Walgreens locations would begin providing the vaccines, adding to the over 700 Publix locations, 150 CVS locations and 125 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the state.
“We have made great progress and I look forward to continuing to work hard to make sure everyone in Florida who wants a shot, can get a shot,” DeSantis said, adding no state mandate would be placed requiring a vaccine.
Florida is set to receive its largest shipment of vaccines this week, with nearly 700,000 doses expected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Included in that increase is 122,900 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine, up 24,000 doses from last week.
Click here for vaccine locations across South Florida and how to register
