(WTXL) — During an announcement about expanding COVID-19 vaccine distribution to CVS stores around the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis said teachers and police who are 50 and older will likely be the next group to be eligible to receive vaccines.
“Because we have these extra doses, of course, we’re going to continue to make all of those sites open for our seniors, but the federally supported sites, as long as it works out to where the doses would be allowed for this, we want that to be open not just to seniors but to sworn law enforcement and classroom teachers,” DeSantis said from Hialeah on Tuesday. “We’ll start probably 50 and up for the police and the teachers.”
DeSantis also said that the state was polling law enforcement agencies to see how many officers would be interested in getting the vaccine.
Right now, only seniors who are age 65 and up have been eligible to get the vaccine. The governor did not specify when he expects Florida to get approval to expand vaccine eligibility.
During that conference, DeSantis also announced that CVS Health will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations at 81 select CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy y más, and Navarro Discount Pharmacy locations in 13 counties across Florida, including 67 in Miami-Dade County.
Participating CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy y más, and Navarro Discount Pharmacy locations are in the following counties: Broward (2), Collier (1), Escambia (1), Flagler (1), Hendry (1), Gadsden (1), Hillsborough (1), Manatee (1), Miami-Dade (67), Palm Beach (1), Polk (2), St. Lucie (1), and Volusia (1).
“These sites at select CVS Health locations will build on the progress we’ve made at existing retail sites and significantly increase access to the vaccine for our seniors,” said DeSantis.
Vaccine supply for the rollout in Florida, which is sourced directly from the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, will be approximately 62,000 total weekly doses.
Appointments for vaccinations at the select CVS Health locations will become available for booking later this week as stores receive shipments of vaccine.
The state said patients must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can contact CVS customer service: (800) 746-7287. Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.
To hear DeSantis' full comments from Tuesday's press conference, click the video below.
