JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — People in Florida under 65 who are “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19 could soon have better access to the vaccine.
The Florida Department of Health and Division of Emergency Management allocated 28,500 doses this week to 26 hospitals statewide with strong encouragement to use for medically vulnerable people.
Right now, only hospitals can vaccinate people under 65 they deem “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19, under the governor’s executive order.
Joan Nardi, 63, said she falls into that category, but has struggled to access the vaccine. “I have hypertension. I have COPD,” Nardi said. “If I got Covid, I’m sure I would probably die.”
Nardi said she’s called hospitals across Jacksonville, but hasn’t found one that will vaccinate her. “It’s been very rough,” Nardi said.
The state said it received more doses of the Moderna vaccine than anticipated this week and was able to set aside a batch for hospital providers to give to medically vulnerable people.
Nardi said it’s a step in the right direction. “Every little bit is going to help,” Nardi said.
Below is a list of the 26 hospitals that have received a portion of the supply from the state intended for people deemed “extremely vulnerable.”
The three hospitals in bold are located in Jacksonville:
- Advent Health Orlando
- Ascension Sacred Heart – Bay
- Ascension Sacred Heart – Emerald Coast
- Ascension Sacred Heart – Pensacola
- Baptist Medical Center – Jacksonville
- Baptist Medical Center – South
- Cleveland Clinic Hospital
- H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center & Research Institute Hospital
- Holmes Regional Medical Center
- Holy Cross Hospital
- Jupiter Medical Center
- Lakeland Regional Medical Center
- Lee Memorial Hospital
- Mayo Clinic
- Memorial Regional Hospital
- Morton Plant Hospital
- Mount Sinai Medical Center
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
- North Florida Regional Medical Center
- Northside Hospital
- Orlando Health – Orlando Regional Medical Center
- Palm Bay Hospital
- St. Joseph’s Hospital – North
- Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
- UF Health – Shands Hospital
- University of Miami Hospital Clinics-UHealth Tower
Mayo Clinic told Action News Jax it received 1,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the State, and has allocated them, per state guidelines, to medically vulnerable patients age 64 and under. Mayo Clinic said those doses are currently in the process of being administered and no appointments are available.
Cox Media Group
