Photo courtesy Unsplash Images
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to roll out, Gov. Ron DeSantis announces seven new vaccination sites around the state.
Cities with new vaccination sites include Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Lynn Haven and Port St. Lucie. All seven locations are in partnership with the Florida Department of Health & Churches, predominately African-American churches.
DeSantis believes that places of worship are the best place for the clinics and to help administer the vaccines.
These newly opened vaccination sites will only cater to senior citizens who are 65 and older and membership within a church is not required.
Back in October, DeSantis said that seniors would not have access to the first distribution of vaccines and would have to wait for the second distribution of vaccines. Since then, his agenda has changed.
“We’re putting seniors first, we are going to keep working hard until every senior who wants it is able to get it,” DeSantis told residents of Lynn Haven Sunday afternoon at a news conference.
“The fact of the matter is, this virus has been more deadly to the people who are elderly. We’ve got to stand by our elderly folks,” DeSantis added.
In Tallahassee, seniors will be able to receive vaccinations at Bethel AME Church, located at 501 W Orange Ave.
As elders are at the top of the chain in deaths due to COVID-19, they are gracious to have this opportunity.
“I am just thankful to still be here, and I just want to do whatever I can to keep safe and healthy from this virus,” COVID-19 Survivor and Senior, Maria Hendricks, said.
There are also five other clinics in Leon county that are administering vaccines, including Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
It is under state guidelines that the first set of vaccines being distributed to the public should only go to those who are 65 or older, nursing home residents and healthcare workers.
According to the Florida Department of Health, over 14,000 people have requested vaccine appointments and about 10,000 have successfully been administered.
Appointments are required and walk-ins are not allowed. For vaccinations distributed at places of worship, there will only be 500 doses given each day.
The vaccine requires two separate doses. The second is to be administered a few weeks after the first dosage.
Over 500,000 Floridians have already received the first dose of the vaccine. All 67 counties have received vaccinations to be distributed. With limited amounts of vaccines, Florida is expected to obtain and open more vaccination sites.
Below is a list of locations to the seven vaccination clinics for seniors in Florida.
Bethel AME Church
501 W Orange Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Lynn Haven Senior Center
905 Pennsylvania Ave
Lynn Haven, FL 32444
New Mount Olive Baptist Church
400 NW 9th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Koinonia Worship Center
4900 Hallandale Beach Blvd
Hollywood, FL 33023
St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
2504 Chipco St
Tampa, FL 33605
St. Bernadette Catholic Church
350 NW California Blvd
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
St. Matthews Baptist Church
3811 Moncrief Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32209