DeSantis Breaks With CDC, Says Florida Seniors Next To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

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THE VILLAGES, Fla. –Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday that Florida’s next phase of COVID-19 vaccination will include seniors from across the state.

“In Florida, we have to put our parents and grandparents first and that’s what we’re going to do,” DeSantis said. “And we are going to work like hell to be able to provide all the vaccines to the elderly who want them.”

“We are not going to put healthy young workers ahead of our vulnerable elderly population,” he continued.

A group of senior citizens from the Villages were vaccinated during the DeSantis press conference at UF Health.

“These are probably the first members of the community to be vaccinated, maybe anywhere in the country but definitely in Florida,” DeSantis said of the group. “It’s kind of a preview of what we’re going to see a lot of hope for over the next few weeks and months.”

DeSantis, who has said people over 70 will be prioritized, did not offer a concrete timeline, but said the state would release additional plans soon, including plans for community vaccination sites that will be available for seniors.

The plan is a break from the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

After healthcare workers and long-time residents, the next groups recommended for vaccine priority are not just those 75 and older, but several groups such as first responders, USPS workers, grocery store employees and teachers. The CDC then recommends people aged 65 to 74, people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk health conditions as well as other essential workers including workers in food service, construction, teller machines. banking, IT and communications, public security and the media.

But the decision of who will actually receive the vaccine then rests with states.

Previously, Florida has focused on delivering vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and those who live and work in long-term care facilities. Last week Florida received 179,400 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which has been used for these groups.

DeSantis said Tuesday that healthcare workers have distributed the vaccine to more than 100 long-term care facilities in Broward and Pinellas counties.

“I think once we offer it to the elderly – and especially if we get Johnson & Johnson approval which is a dose – I think you will be able to offer it widely and I think some of the key areas, whether it’s law enforcement, fire, whether it’s teachers, I think they will have access to it, ”DeSantis said.

DeSantis said this week the state has received an additional 127,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and by the end of Tuesday the state is expected to have 367,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

About 4.4 million Florida residents are over 65 and over 3 million are over 70, DeSantis said.

“This is going to be reserved for you,” DeSantis said, speaking to seniors in Florida. “But not everyone will be able to do it from day one. It will take time to be able to ensure that everyone has access to it.

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