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DeSantis: Hospitals to be prioritized based on how quickly they distribute COVID-19 vaccine to seniors

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks in Pensacola. (The Florida Channel)

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference regarding the state’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine Wednesday morning in Pensacola, at which time he announced more vaccination sites up north and said that the state will distribute more vaccines next week to hospitals that are “blowing through” them.

According to the governor, the Florida Department of Emergency Management is monitoring the progress being made at each hospital and vaccination location in the state and will make sure that vaccines are going to places that are using them in the short term.

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DeSantis commended the Jackson Health System as being one of the health systems in the state that has responded well to his executive order to prioritize those who are 65 and older.

He said the state expects to receive another shipment of the vaccine next week.

“So the hospitals that are blowing through, that can do more, we want to be able to give them more,” DeSantis said.

The governor said the state is also working to open more drive-through sites for seniors.

“As soon as more vaccine is available, we’re looking at ways to be able to get that into the community and, at this point, the hospitals have been given enough vaccine for their frontline workers,” he said.

The governor said the state has already deployed 1,000 nurses to assist the National Guard at vaccination locations across Florida and will deploy extra resources to assist CVS and Walgreens with vaccinating those at assisted living facilities.


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