DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) - More South Floridians are getting their shot at prevention ahead of another drop in age eligibility to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
On Friday morning, Florida residents headed to Doral Legacy Park to get their vaccine. About 500 people made appointments to get vaccinated at the site, including Natalia Brabo, who brought her aunt to get vaccinated.
“Knowing that my family can get vaccinated, it’s just such a peace of mind,” she said.
Appointments are necessary to get vaccinated at Doral Legacy Park.
Cameras also captured state residents waiting in line to get vaccinated at the Miami-Dade College North Campus mass vaccination site. No appointment is necessary at the Federal Emergency Management Agency-supported site.
Vanessa Jimenez stopped by the site for her second Pfizer vaccine dose.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “I think it’s the best thing that could happen. Even though you’re vaccinated, you still have to continue caring because of all the different strands that COVID has.”
On Monday, the eligibility requirement for getting the vaccine will drop from 50 to 40.
“Starting Monday, those 40 and up will be able to access vaccines, and then, the following Monday, after Easter, it will be 18 and up,” said Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez at the Doral site.
Friday afternoon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced teenagers 16 and over will be allowed to get the Pfizer vaccine starting April 5. Lines are expected to get longer as the age requirement continues to be lowered.
The expanded availability comes as Nuñez said roughly 71% of seniors in the state have been vaccinated, and there has been an increase in the supply of vaccine.
“We received roughly 63,000 additional Pfizer vaccines,” she said. “The prior week we had gotten zero Johnson & Johnson, and so this week, I believe we received upwards of 25,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines.”
“We’re going to be at 3.5 million seniors soon that have gotten shots,” said DeSantis. “On Tuesday, we did 133,000 initial doses, that’s J & J or the first dose of Pfizer and Moderna, and that’s not even fully reported yet.”
Meanwhile, federal leaders in Washington have noticed progress across the U.S.
“I think states across the country have done a good job of prioritizing the most vulnerable, and I think that being at 71% of individuals 65 years and older across the country having received at least their first shot is real progress,” White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Sientz said. “About 45% of those seniors are fully vaccinated.”
For more information about vaccination sites in Florida, click here.
If you would like to pre-register for a vaccine at FEMA-supported sites in Florida, click here.
Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
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