With the addition of a third vaccine to help in the fight against COVID-19, comes an expansion of vaccine access to other groups.
As more groups are granted vaccine eligibility, Action News Jax will update this list.
FLORIDA
In a December 2020 executive order, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida seniors age 65 and older, health care personnel with direct patient contact, and long-term care facility residents and staff were the priority groups eligible to receive the vaccine. Hospitals could also vaccinate people they deemed to be extremely vulnerable to the virus.
As of March 3, people who fall in these categories may get the vaccine:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff
- Persons 65 years of age and older
- Persons under 65 deemed medically vulnerable by a physician (NOTE: You will need your physician to fill out a COVID-19 Determination of Extreme Vulnerability form that can be found here.)
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact
- K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older
On March 15, the governor expanded the eligibility to persons age 60 and older. On March 22, it lowered again to all Floridians age 50 and up.
DeSantis soon lowered the vaccine eligibility to Floridians 40+ and as of April 5, the coronavirus vaccine will be available to Floridians age 16 and older.
Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized for people under 18 years old.
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GEORGIA
Phase 1A+ of Georgia’s vaccine plan included vaccinations for healthcare workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and effective on Jan. 11, adults age 65 and older and law enforcement, firefighters, first responders.
As of Feb. 25, the Georgia Department of Public Health says the following groups are being vaccinated:
- Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, lab technicians, EMS)
- Law enforcement
- Fire personnel
- First responders
- Resident and staff of long-term care facilities
- Individuals aged 65 and older and their caregivers
On March 8, the above Georgia groups expanded to include:
- Pre-K through 12 educators and staff
- Parents of children with complex medical conditions
- Adults with intellectual and development disabilities and their caregivers
On March 15, the vaccine eligibility also included:
- People 16 and older with certain medical conditions, such as asthma, cancer, heart, kidney or lung diseases. Click here to see full list of conditions. (NOTE: “For individuals aged 16 and 17 who are in an eligible population for vaccination, Pfizer is the only vaccine currently approved for these ages. Please schedule an appointment at CVS or Walgreens or at one of the GEMA mass vaccination sites to ensure Pfizer vaccine is available,” the department of health said.)
During a news conference on March 23, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that all adult Georgians, and 16 and 17-year-olds, will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. That began on March 25.
For information on how to find a vaccine in your area or for the latest updates on vaccines, click here.
Cox Media Group
