JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Healthcare Association was expecting the COVID-19 vaccine to arrive at nursing homes in Northeast Florida by early next week, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday night that things are running three days ahead of schedule.
In a tweet, the governor said distribution of the vaccine would begin rolling into motion Friday.
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I’m pleased to announce that @Walgreens will begin their mission to vaccinate staff and residents at FL’s long-term care facilities tomorrow in Jacksonville - 3 days ahead of schedule. I appreciate @Walgreens for leaning in. There is no time to waste!
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) December 18, 2020
Both Walgreens and CVS have around 2,000 long-term care facilities across the state signed up to receive vaccines, according to the Communications Director of Florida Health Care Association Kristen Knapp.
The vaccinations will be done through COVID-19 immunization clinics, set up on-site at each facility where a team of Department of Health or pharmacy representatives will manage the immunization process. Residents and staff are required to fill out consent forms.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management says 65,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been sent to CVS and Walgreens through ‘Operation Warp Speed’ for long-term-care facilities. The agency reported more than 110 facilities will be visited by vaccine strike teams within the next six days.
RELATED: Department of Health data on long-term care COVID-19-related death(s)
This comes at a critical time. Statewide, 2,020 long-term care facility residents out of 138,317 have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Florida Department of Health.2,148 of 183,249 staff members have tested positive.
In Duval County, state data shows:
- Cross Care Center has 26 positive COVID patients
- Dolphin Pointe Health Care Center has 21
- 29 patients have tested positive at Healthcare Center of Jacksonville