Florida Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to All School Workers

Strategic Insights -

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all K-12 and day care center workers, regardless of age, through various pharmacies and federally run vaccination sites. This decision was made in response to the federal government's guidance that all school employees, including day care workers, should be vaccinated. DeSantis emphasized that the state will continue to follow its "Seniors First" policy, prioritizing seniors above the age of 50 who are still waiting for vaccines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all K-12 and day care center workers, regardless of age.
  • The decision was made in response to the federal government's guidance that all school employees, including day care workers, should be vaccinated.
  • Publix, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart will begin offering vaccines to school employees of all ages throughout the state.
  • School employees of all ages will be able to sign up for appointments on Publix's online registration portal, which opens at 7 a.m. Friday.
  • CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens will offer appointments on a rolling basis as they become available through their websites.
  • None of the pharmacies will require people to provide proof of unemployment to get a vaccine, but those with underlying health problems will be asked to present a form signed by a doctor.
  • Florida is expecting 175,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines this week, which will be used to create points of distribution for police, school employees, and firefighters.

Statistics:

  • 95.7% of COVID-related mortality has been above the age of 50.
  • Publix offers about 19,000 vaccines each week at 67 stores in Palm Beach County.
  • About 60 CVS stores in Miami-Dade County are offering COVID shots.
  • None of the Walgreens stores in South Florida are offering vaccines, but they are available in six counties on the state's west coast.
  • About a dozen Walmart stores in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are offering vaccines.

Sources:

  • [Jane Musgrave, Palm Beach Daily News, "CVS, Publix, Walmart, and Walgreens will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to all school workers in Florida" (no date provided)]
  • [Palm Beach Daily News, "Schools to get COVID-19 vaccines on fixed schedule" (no date provided)]