Renzo Downey
Florida is opening seven vaccination sites in partnership with houses of worship across the state.
Last week, Florida began offering shots at a community center and a church in the Pensacola area as part of an effort to bring the vaccine to places people trust. Sunday’s announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis in Lynn Haven is the next phase of that effort.
Sites in Lynn Haven, as well as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, St. Lucie, Tallahassee and Tampa will provide 500 shots per day in partnership with 50 houses of worship. Many sites serve predominantly African American churches.
“We really believe making sure these vaccines are getting into all segments of communities are important and we think working with our houses of worship are one way that we can do that,” DeSantis said.
Florida is currently vaccinating up to 60,000 per day, the Governor said, but there is capacity to do more. On Thursday, he said he asked the federal government to double its shipment of doses to the state for the week.
“We have (the capacity) to do much more and we’re trying to get more vaccine,” DeSantis said Sunday.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Panama City native, was on hand in neighboring Lynn Haven to kick off testing there.
The Governor’s critics have pushed back against his COVID-19 response, from up his choice not to impose mask mandates or to lock down the state to the vaccine rollout. But Patronis has consistently stood behind him.
“Everybody feels like there’s a better way to do this. But all I know is every single day, to the tune of over 900 people a day, (people) are moving to the state of Florida because of the leadership you’ve shown and what we see that has taken place in Florida and not in the New Yorks or the Illinois or the Chicagos or the Californias.”
3 comments
William Corless
January 10, 2021 at 3:22 pm
I am a 75 yo Vet with lung disease. But you’re giving my vaccine to a church.? When does the VA get
the same treatment?
Pam
January 10, 2021 at 8:57 pm
DeSantis your poor excuse to give shots to foreigners because we are a transit state.Thats a crock.you are worthless. Pinellas county tax payers are no getting vaccinated because of your inept roll out,phone and internet crash which we saw coming after your unemployment rollout.You are creating anxiety among retirees who are not snowbirds but lifelong residents.You condone the charter planes coming from alover Canada,you were on front page of there news.No other states are letting no residents get vaccinated,and on top of that you are letting super bowl go on with Tampabay and Florida’s high COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Pinellas and Hillsboro counties.You are creating superspreader events for the wealth of a few,not the average taxpayers of Florida.People are saying they wish you could be impeached for incompetence.
John Bontly
January 11, 2021 at 9:35 am
Am I missing something? Lee county has Publix and lots of churches are any going to give vaccines? Lee never seems included in Governor’s visits. Wise me up.
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