Vaccine is open to Floridians aged 60 and over

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Florida on Monday opened COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 60 and older. While the drop in age from 65 was expected to bring a new wave of people to state and federal sites and drive more filings for shots at retail pharmacies, the lines to get vaccinated remained short.

At the vaccination site operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Gateway Mall, many people told News4Jax on Monday that they would like to get vaccinated and were surprised that the line was so short.

Arvia Gilmore said she was shocked that she didn’t have to wait and that there were enough photos to take when she arrived at the site to get vaccinated.

“Let the people shoot,” Gilmore said.

News4Jax also checked the state’s vaccination site at Regency Square Mall on Monday and found that the line was short and no appointments were needed.

The latest statistics from the Florida Department of Health show that statewide 4,252,250 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 2,279,646 have completed their shot regiment, be it the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna options.

Florida has more than 21.4 million residents, including 17.7 million residents aged 16 and older, who would qualify for at least one of the vaccination options if age restrictions were not imposed by the state.

The expanded age criterion is because Florida reported 99 more coronavirus-related deaths for a total of 32,959 on Monday. The state also reported 2,826 additional COVID-19 cases to bring the total to 1,979,634.

The lowering of the age to be vaccinated to 60 is in addition to continuing to vaccinate primary health workers, school personnel, law enforcement officers and firefighters aged 50 and over, people of any age with a doctor’s certificate showing that they are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. , and healthcare providers of everyone who is eligible for the vaccine.

David Cox, who got a shot at the Gateway Mall vaccination site, said it’s time to lower the age requirement even further.

“I think they should,” Cox said. “People die because you’re just ignorant and they blame ‘I can’t get enough’.”

Larry Jones, 64, said he knows the concerns many African Americans have about vaccinations. But he told them not to wait and he thinks the Gateway Mall site should now be opened up to all age groups.

“I think the sooner they lower it, the more people get vaccinated,” Jones told News4Jax after being vaccinated.

DeSantis said last week that after the state makes people 60 and older eligible for the vaccine, it will quickly lower the age to 55 and then likely open it up to the rest of the population.

RELATED: Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Northeast Florida

In addition to the major vaccination sites at Gateway Mall and Regency Square Mall, two smaller federal vaccination centers opened Sunday at the Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach and the Oceanway Center on Jacksonville’s north side.

The Gateway Mall site is expected to be open until May 3rd. Workers hope it will get busier as age restrictions are further reduced.

Vaccination appointments are also available at most Publix and Walmart pharmacies and some Winn-Dixie, CVS, and Walmart stores. Visit myvaccine.fl.gov to find a site near you.

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