JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning that Walgreens Pharmacies will start distributing the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine in Florida.
Right now, only two sites will be open in Citrus County, but DeSantis expects the expansion for other parts of the state will happen over the upcoming few weeks. The two sites will open tomorrow.
DeSantis says that once more of those vaccine sites open and when Florida receives the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, he will lower the general population age eligibility.
“So we are going to do even more Walgreens in the coming weeks and I think that that will be particularly important when we get to a point where we can lower the age to below 65, which is going to happen relatively soon, certainly this month,” DeSantis said. “It’s just a matter of looking at how much vaccine we’re getting and how much coverage we’re getting for seniors.”
So far in Florida, 54 percent of all seniors have received at least one dose, according to DeSantis. He featured St. Johns County and Duval County for being above average in vaccinating the seniors. St. Johns County has vaccinated 80 percent of seniors and Duval County has vaccinated over 60 percent.
Florida is expecting to receive 175,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. DeSantis says this shipment will have to last over the next two weeks as Florida will not get another shipment of the one-shot vaccine next week. He says that they will focus on getting the one-shot vaccine to eligible teachers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters who are 50 and up.
To make an appointment for a vaccine at Walgreens, click here. Unlike CVS, who has started to follow federal guidelines for vaccine eligibility, Walgreens will be following Florida’s guidelines.
Cox Media Group
