DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Vaccine eligibility is about to expand in Florida, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Speaking at a press conference in Jacksonville, the governor said vaccine eligibility will likely open up to a different age group sometime in March.
“I would say, without question, barring any problems with the vaccine distribution, you’re going to see the age lower at some time in March, for sure,” he said. “As soon as we have the metrics to justify it, we’re going to let people know.”
The governor did not say how much the age will lower, and that vaccines should be easier to get by April.
“I think the supply is going to be very robust. … Within the next four to six weeks, you’re going to see this, I think, potentially really turn a corner just in terms of how ready access people have to it,” he said.
Florida residents 65 and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine, as are frontline health care workers.
DeSantis also announced the state will open several new vaccine sites in an effort to get more shots into arms.
“We really have a lot of momentum on the vaccine,” DeSantis said.
The new sites will be at Edward Waters College, FAMU, Broward College and in Miami-Dade County. DeSantis said the new sites will be able to vaccinate 200 people per day.
“Hope is alive. People are being vaccinated, our schools are open. Thank God we live in Florida,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who was in attendance.
The governor announced last week that the state has been working with the federal government to open the first federally-run COVID-19 vaccination sites in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
The sites will open March 3 and operate seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each site will also have a mobile clinic that can vaccinate around 500 people per day.
One of the sites will be located at the Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Avenue in Tampa. FEMA has not yet provided information about where and how people can sign up.