Janelle Irwin Taylor
Florida is in line to receive another more than 250,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to an announcement from U.S. Rick Scott Tuesday night.
In a tweet, Scott said he heard from the Department of Health and Human Services that Florida would be receiving 254,825 doses sometime during the week of Jan. 10. The shipment will bring Florida’s total allocation to 1.47 million.
“We must continue to do everything we can to distribute these doses to those who need it most,” Scott said.
Great news for Floridians – according to @HHSGov 254,825 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to Florida the week of Jan. 10. This brings our total allocation to 1.47 mil.
We must continue to do everything we can to distribute these doses to those who need it most.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 5, 2021
Scott did not say whether the new shipment will include the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a combination of both. Both require cold storage and two doses weeks apart.
His announcement comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to face backlash over the state’s distribution of the vaccine. In some counties seniors have been lining up to wait over night to receive vaccines. In others, like in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties where demand crashed reservation websites and phone lines jammed, seniors have faced roadblocks in obtaining a vaccine.
DeSantis received national scrutiny over the state’s handling of the vaccine rollout. In Miami Monday, he entered into a testy exchange during a press conference with a CNN reporter regarding long lines and seniors camping over night to receive a vaccine.
CNN reporter Rosa Flores pressed DeSantis Monday on whether there was a plan from the state to ensure an orderly vaccine rollout. Long lines in places like Lee County meant some people waited in line overnight to receive the vaccine.
“The state is not dictating to hospitals, we’re not dictating to Carlos Migoya how he runs his operation here. That would be a total disaster,” DeSantis said Monday. “These guys are much more competent to be able to deliver health care services than a state government could ever be.”
DeSantis has maintained since that exchange that Florida’s rollout has gone well, arguing the only problems have been with having too few vaccinations to meet demand.
Meanwhile, Publix is partnering with the state to offer the vaccine to those 65 and older in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties. A total of 22 Publix pharmacies will have vaccines on hand, while supplies last, to those who register on Publix’s vaccine website.
One comment
Linda
January 11, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Seems as soon as you hear a place has the vaccine either they won’t answer the phone or appointments are taken 2 minutes after the vaccines are available.
I don’t know how others feel but I don’t want to go to the Health Department and sit among people there to be tested for COVID.
I know Dr Offices and Clinics have people 70 and older that have been patients over 35 years and your Dr.‘s office should be able to vaccine their patients whiteout all the total madness of the way things are being handled today.
When you get on a list at CVS where I get all my scripts filled, I was told it would probably be March. I have basically worked as an essential worker in an insurance company with a skeleton crew since last year. I have basically quarantined except work and just barely essential places I have had to go. I can’t go sit in a line for 5 or 6 hours only to be told there are no more vaccines.
I feel our Government could do a better job letting the older population have an easier time getting vaccines since we are the ones at a higher risk and the new more contagious strain hitting Florida.
I’m ready to feel a little safer about daily living and getting a somewhat way back to just half a normal life.
Thank you for listening!!
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