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.
One member of Congress from South Florida will host the second day of distribution on Tuesday while some doctors are aiming to correct misinformation on the vaccine when it comes to pregnancy.
Here's what we know today about the coronavirus outbreak in Florida, and the effort to stop it.
'Vax Teams' Visit Miami Neighborhoods With Low Vaccination Rates
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A team of county employees paid a visit to Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood on Tuesday to answer questions and put to rest doubt some people might have about getting a vaccine.
The community outreach comes as the number of people receiving a first dose in the county appears to be flattening, and the demand is softening at some vaccination sites including the FEMA-supported site at Miami-Dade College North.
The county is targeting neighborhoods with a low vaccination rate and mobile vaccine sites that aren’t busy.
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“This is who this is for and they are the ones that are still on the fence about it," said resident Herbert Polite. "That comes from a long history of distrust from government and Black people, and that is problem we are going to have to navigate, but this helps.”
Two Miami-Dade FEMA Vaccination Sites to Relocate
From Thursday, March 11th to Wednesday, March 17th, the two FEMA sites in Florida City and Sweetwater will relocate to the following locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Allen Park Community Center at 1770 Northeast 162nd Street in North Miami Beach.
- Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Drive in Miami Springs.
But from Thursday, March 18th to Tuesday, March 23rd these sites will then will relocate to the following locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Charles Hadley Park at 1350 NW 50th Street
- South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center at 10950 SW 211th Street
U.S. Rep. Holding Second Vaccination Event for Select Educators in South Florida
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson will host the event Tuesday in an effort to help in the distribution of the vaccine across South Florida.
The event, which started Monday, will be for educators in Miami-Dade Public Schools' 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. Tuesday's distribution will be at Borinquen Health Care Center (3601 Federal Highway).
Floridians 60 and Older Now Able to Receive Vaccine as State Expands Eligibility
A new group of residents age 60 and older across the state of Florida got a chance to get their first doses of the COVID vaccine starting Monday.
The state lowered the age of eligibility to 60, adding to the list of specific groups eligible to include:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff
- Health care workers
- School employees grades K-12 ages 18 and older
- Police and firefighters ages 50 and older
- Residents with health risks that bring proper state documentation
Two FEMA run sites remain open in North Miami Beach (Allen Park Community Center at 1770 Northeast 162nd Street) and Miami Springs (Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Drive) through Wednesday. Officials have not said if they will remain open or move to a new location.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival to Require Proof of Vaccination, Negative COVID Test
This May's 20th annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival will require attendees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, according to the official festival website.
The negative COVID-19 PCR test must be dated no more than 72 hours (three days) prior to the event. Guests who have been inoculated do not need to provide a negative COVID-19 test.
In addition to the new safety protocols, face masks will be required for all attendees and hand sanitizer stations will be set up throughout the venue. Staff will wear gloves, face shields, face masks and sanitize surfaces in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Local Doctors Address Misinformation Tied to COVID-19 Vaccine, Infertility
Some people are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine for a number of reasons. Among the concerns is infertility.
Dr. Armando Hernandez-Rey of Conceptions Florida and Dr. Jennifer Schell of Concierge Postpartum Care say the COVID-19 vaccines do not have a negative effect on fertility.
Dr. Jennifer Schell, an OBGYN, says she has also received dozens of questions on Instagram about the vaccine. This prompted her to upload posts addressing vaccine misinformation. Click here for more in a story from NBC 6 reporter Laura Rodriguez.
