ORLANDO SENTINEL – Orlando Health is expanding vaccine eligibility to patients 65 or older starting Monday. Orlando Health announced Sunday that vaccination appointments will be assigned through a “randomization process” due to limited supply.
Orlando Health will also move vaccination sites out of its hospitals and into the community starting Monday.
“We know vaccine demand is high and we are working diligently to acquire additional supplies,” Orlando Health COO Dr. Jamal Hakim said in a news release. “We will open and announce additional appointment availability as vaccine supply becomes available.” Read more here.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said more Publix pharmacies will offer vaccines soon. In a Sunday press conference, DeSantis said the recently announced partnership with Publix offer shots will be expanded beyond Marion, Henderson and Citrus counties.
“I can tell you they’re doing a fantastic job,” DeSantis said. “We’ll be making another announcement this week about expanding that footprint.”
Statewide 558,326 people have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the DOH report released Sunday. 38.409 in Florida have received both doses to be considered fully immunized.
Of those who have received at least the first dose, more than 271,000 are over the age of 65. A detailed breakdown of who has been vaccinated so far can be found here.
The Florida Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment portal in Orange County closed on Saturday, according to a press release from DOH.
“At this time, we are pausing our COVID-19 Vaccination scheduling CDR HealthPRO system,” said Kent Donahue. “When the website reopens, we will make a public announcement.”
In Orange County, over 73,000 new first and second dose appointments have been scheduled before the appointment portal closure on Saturday.
Vaccinations pick up speed at Florida long-term care centers
Nearly half of Florida nursing home residents have received their initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the state’s surgeon general reported late this week, while Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered reinforcements to speed up the vaccination process for assisted living facilities throughout the state as long-term care infection rates skyrocket. Read more.
