HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Anna Fusco, the Broward Teachers Union president, said on Tuesday that she was happy to see teachers receiving the protection they need during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think it’s awesome. I think it should have been done a lot sooner where they opened it up for everybody to be able to get it,” Fusco said.
Broward County Public Schools’ employees who are age 18 or older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week at the T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood.
“It’s just going to bring more and more people in our community vaccinated,” Fusco said.
Marcia Daniocek, 47, a kindergarten teacher, had a Tuesday morning appointment. She said it went pretty smoothly and it was painless.
“We have a lot of precautions in the school, so t’s just an extra layer of protection,” Daniocek said.
Friday is the last day to make appointments at 1-866-201-6313 through the partnership with the school district and the Florida Department of Health, at 3300 N. Park Rd.
CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Publix, Winn Dixie, and Walmart are vaccinating daycare workers and school employees with no age limit during the month of March, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Federal Retail Pharmacy Program guidelines.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a directive on March 2nd asking states to prioritize teachers, school staff, and child care workers. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on March 4 that Florida was going to comply with the directive at retail pharmacies and federal-supported sites.
The state-run and Federal Emergency Management Agency-supported site at Miami Dade College North Campus, at 11380 NW 27 Ave., in Westview, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and welcomes walk-ins.
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On Monday, DeSantis expanded eligibility to include Florida residents who are age 60 or older.
DeSantis’ list of eligibility also includes vulnerable patients who have a state form signed by a physician, health care workers, and police officers and firefighters who are age 50 or older. State sites are only accepting school employees who are age 50 or older.
As of Monday, FDOH reported 2,370,198 had completed the COVID-19 vaccine series in Florida, including 203,829 in Broward County and 258,271 in Miami-Dade County.
Florida report
Miami-Dade report
Broward report
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