As a limited supply of the coronavirus vaccine has become available across Florida, residents are understandably anxious to know when they will be able to stand in line for a dose.
Residents across the state of Florida will get a chance to get their vaccines from a slightly younger age group than what was allowed before - while Jackson Health is expanding their eligibility even more.
More Vaccine News
Here's what we know today about the coronavirus outbreak in Florida, and the effort to stop it.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
Confusion Tuesday at Miami-Dade FEMA Site
Many who were not eligible under current state guidelines were able to receive their COVID-19 shot Tuesday at a FEMA vaccination site on Miami-Dade College's North Campus.
Exactly whose decision it was to ignore the state’s criteria is unclear. FEMA was adamant it was not up to them, and the state said the governor’s guidelines should be followed.
But not everyone who showed up at the site Tuesday was lucky -- one 16-year-old said he was turned away despite having documentation from his doctor and parents because he’s underage.
And then there were the people who were turned away for not coming to the site in a car. Miami-Dade police said that's what site staff told them to do, but the state maintained should not have happened.
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital to Vaccinate Qualifying Patients Ages 16-17
Memorial Healthcare System announced Tuesday that it is expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to include current Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital patients who are 16 or 17 years old with certain high-risk medical conditions.
Eligible patients must be permanent or seasonal Florida residents and must have completed a Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital physician office in-person or telehealth visit, or must have visited a JDCH or Memorial Healthcare System Emergency Department, 24/7 Clinic, urgent care centers or hospitals within the last 12 months for one of the qualifying high-risk medical conditions.
More here.
Two FEMA Vaccination Sites to Relocate in Miami-Dade
For a limited time, two “hub” vaccination sites in Miami-Dade County will be relocated.
Both satellite locations will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Wednesday, March 10th. They are located at:
- Ronselli Park Youth Center at 250 SW 114th Ave. in Sweetwater.
- Florida City Youth Activity Center at 650 NW 5th Ave. in Florida City.
However, from Tuesday, March 11th to Wednesday, March 17th, the two sites will close and relocate to the following locations:
- Allen Park Community Center at 1770 Northeast 162nd Street in North Miami Beach.
- Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Drive in Miami Springs.
At this time, the Florida Department of Health has not announced if the locations will be relocated back to their original sites.
Jackson Health System to Expand Vaccination to Some Florida Residents 16+
Jackson Health System announced Monday it is expanding its criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations at its three sites to include certain Florida residents ages 16 and older.
Beginning Tuesday, Jackson will vaccinate Florida residents in the following four categories:
- Anyone ages 65 years or older.
- If you are 50 to 64 years old with an ID showing you are school-site personnel at a K-12 school, a sworn law enforcement officer, or a firefighter.
- If you are 18 years or older, and can attest that your physician recommended you to receive the vaccine due to your high-risk condition (no documentation is required)
- If you are between 16-17 years old, and can attest that your physician recommended you to receive the vaccine due to your high-risk condition. No documentation or proof needed if you are in this category, but you are required to have a parent or legal guardian with you at your appointment to provide consent.
Jackson will open its online appointment portal Monday and people who meet the above-mentioned criteria can obtain an appointment for Tuesday.
Florida COVID Vaccine Eligibility Lowering to Include Anyone 60 and Older: Gov.
Florida is lowering COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include anyone age 60 and older starting March 15, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday.
Speaking at a news conference in Tallahassee, DeSantis said all state drive-thru vaccination sites as well as all pods and pharmacies will expand to include people 60 through 64, which makes about 1.4 million more Floridians eligible.
The state has been offering vaccines to people 65 and older since they became available in December, along with first responders. Last week, the state also began offering them to law enforcement and firefighters 50 and older, as well as all teachers and school staff under new federal guidelines.
Federal Direction Requires Prioritization of All School, Child Care Personnel for Vaccines
At the direction of the federal government, any retailers participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program are required to prioritize all K-12, child care teachers and personnel for vaccine appointments until further notice.
Among those elegible are:
- Teachers, school staff and child care workers who work in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This includes teachers, staff and bus drivers.
- Those who work as or for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers.
Publix is set to follow this new directive during its next available COVID‑19 vaccine scheduling opportunity on Wednesday, March 10th.
