MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Eligibility is expanding for law enforcement, firefighters and school personnel at Miami-Dade County-run vaccination sites.
At the same time, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said we could see a drop in eligibility age statewide by months-end, despite an apparent issue with supply.
“We definitely will lower to 55 sometime in March,” DeSantis said. “I think we can get that done even at the current stagnant supply.”
State planners said starting Wednesday and until future notice, the FEMA-supported, state-run vaccination sites will only be carrying Pfizer because Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine is currently out of stock.
“We have no more J&J coming for the foreseeable future for,” DeSantis said. “The next two or three weeks we are not anticipating any new J&J.”
In Miami-Dade County, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expanded the vaccine eligibility at three county-run sites.
“I’m fighting so hard now to open eligibility to more and more people,” Levine Cava said.
Those sites are Tropical Park, Zoo Miami and the Homestead Sports Complex.
Following the mayor’s new order, the sites are open all law enforcement, firefighters and school employees of all ages.
At state-run sites like Hard Rock Stadium and Marlins Park, vaccine doses are only eligible to law enforcement, firefighters and school employees over age 50.
At the federal vaccination sites, its over 50 for police and fire but 18 and over for Pre-K-to-12 school employees. Also eligible there are those over 60 and individuals under 60 with a doctor’s prescription order.
Levine Cava, who tested positive for COVID-19 last November, received her first dose on Wednesday while county outreach teams canvas neighborhoods in an attempt to register residents and educate them about the vaccine.
“You see I’m wearing green, definitely my lucky day to get the vaccine and I feel great,” said Levine Cava.
Starting Thursday at 9 a.m. FEMA-supported satellite sites will open in two new locations: Charles Hadley Park in Miami and the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.