TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters and K-12 school personnel ages 50 and older.
The expansion comes as the governor said the state is expecting to receive 175,000 doses of the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week.
DeSantis said that amount, however, is tentative and he hopes to soon confirm whether the state will in fact be receiving those doses this week.
“If you look at those numbers, the law enforcement and fire -- some of them already got it because we focused on first responders. You’re talking about 20,000, 25,000 people maybe, and then with the schools, we probably could do all of that 50 and up -- K-12 personnel and police, fire -- with just our J&J shipment,” the governor said.
DeSantis urged Floridians to take the vaccine if they qualify, saying the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is “much more versatile” than the other vaccines currently being offered as it can simply be stored in a refrigerator and only needs to be administered once.
He urged the public not to be discouraged by the 66% overall effectiveness of the vaccine, saying that “It’s 100% effective against death and hospitalization -- particularly after the 28 days with the hospitalization.”
Below is a list of those currently eligible in Florida for the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff;
- Persons 65 years of age and older;
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact;
- K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older.
Hospitals and physicians may also administer the vaccine to those they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
Related links:
List of cases by city in South Florida
Find a COVID-19 testing site near you
Hospital bed capacity and availability
Coronavirus cases in Florida schools
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WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about vaccine eligibility expansion at time mark 20:20