Changes announced Friday for COVID-19 vaccines make it easier for some to get an injection

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NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – One of the newest groups to qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine in Florida is individuals 18 years of age or older who have a high-risk medical condition according to a physician. Earlier in the week, state planners said the only form that would be accepted at the FEMA sites where those meeting that requirement would be vaccinated required the Department of Health’s Determination of Extreme Vulnerability form.

A change was announced at a briefing on Friday afternoon. While Thursday was hammered, a doctor’s note on stationery or prescription of a doctor’s letter would not be acceptable – that restriction has now changed, and those forms of eligibility will be accepted.

“It must be a prescription or on a physician’s letterhead, signed by the physician, stating that you meet the medical vulnerability criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Mike Jachles, president of the Florida PIO Deployment -team.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the suitability of the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida last Friday by signing an executive order that gave doctors the authority to determine who is extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Under the addition of Governor Ron DeSantis to the first phase of vaccination plans for Floridians, Executive Order 21-46 states that individuals who are considered by a physician to have a high risk medical condition can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those eligible recipients are only accepted at the FEMA locations, including the major location on Miami Dade College’s North Campus, which is open every day from 7am to 7pm and no appointments are required.

FEMA also supports two satellite hub vaccination centers. They are located in Sweetwater at Ronseli Park (250 Southwest 114th Avenue) and Florida City at the Youth Activity Center (650 Northwest 5th Avenue). Both offer 500 doses daily and are open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

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The state-run sites of Marlins Park and Hard Rock Stadium will not administer vaccines to high-risk individuals under the age of 65.

Also new on Friday, state planners said anyone needing a second dose of Pfizer can come to the FEMA-supported sites for that final shot. The planner said you should have your vaccination card that was given to you when you received the first dose. Walk-ups are welcome.

On Friday, there was a steady stream of people at the FEMA location on Miami-Dade College’s North Campus throughout the day. State planners said they expect even more people to come out for photos this weekend.

Florida government Ron DeSantis said it is possible that the age required to receive an injection could be lowered if vaccination supplies rise.

“We are going to take an age-based approach,” said DeSantis. “The next change is to lower the age from 65 to 60 or 55 years. Most likely we will do 60 and it will happen in March.

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This comes to what was a game-changing week for the vaccine rollout, between the scale of the federal vaccination sites that came online on Wednesday and the expansion of eligibility, there are now more shots for more people.

However, as of Friday 4 p.m., officials at the major FEMA site said they had only dispensed just over half of their 3,000 doses.

Oliver Gilbert III, Miami-Dade County Commissioner, said, “We need this vaccine from you in your arm because when you put it in your arm, you’re not just putting it in your arm for yourself, you’re putting it in your arm for all. purposes in your arm. U.S.”

With the Miami-Dade College North FEMA site not reaching its daily dose capacity in the past two days, local leaders have issued a call to action.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava led a procession of community members to get those who qualified to receive a dose.

Levine Cava announced that they are in the planning stages of launching vaccine outreach teams in neighborhoods near the FEMA-supported Florida City and Sweetwater sites to answer questions and register residents.

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“Let’s be clear,” she said. “Some people are reluctant and these teams will be trained to talk about the facts and help people understand and feel comfortable with the vaccine.”

Find out who is currently available for a COVID-19 vaccine.

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