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MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) – Immediately after the announcement that two South Florida hospitals have been chosen to be among the first in the state to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, the Florida Department of Health Director for the county de Broward explained how the vaccine will be distributed.
The Pfizer vaccine could eventually be at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Memorial Regional Hospital in December, when hospitals will begin administering vaccines to healthcare workers and the most vulnerable.
“Now we can feel optimistic, but we must not let our guard down,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “It will be a few months before it reaches the general population, which is all the more reason why we must continue these precautions,”
According to FDOH Broward County Director Dr Paula Thaqi, the vaccine will be distributed to some of the county’s COVID-19 testing sites.
“We anticipate that we will be vaccinating at sites, some of which may be concurrent with our test sites,” Thaqi said. “We need to work with the county and the municipalities on this, but we have this structure in place, and we are maintaining this structure in anticipation of not only the need for ongoing testing, but the need for vaccination as well.
Most vaccines will consist of two doses. FDOH will track patient progress using a program called Florida Shots.
“We plan to use Florida Shots, which is the state’s immunization registry, to order and document vaccines, and provide reminder messages for a second dose,” Thaqi said.
This week alone, more than 29,000 Floridians have contracted the virus and nearly 300 more deaths have been reported.
In Key West, the city commission voted 7-0 to implement a strict mask mandate. Anyone in Key West who does not wear a mask in public space will be fined.
This fine will be collected after the expiration of Governor Ron DeSantis’s executive order prohibiting the collection of fines related to masks.
There was no mention of DeSantis’ COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday, but it released a video saying it will take 24 hours to get the vaccines in Florida once the FDA approves them.
“CVS and Walgreens also will begin receiving the vaccines administered to residents of institutions for long-term care, which, of course, are the most vulnerable citizens regarding the Covid-19,” said DeSantis.
DeSantis said the very first batch of vaccine could be in Florida in just three weeks.
By early 2021, more vaccines are expected to be made available to others.
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