JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One day after opening COVID-19 shots to Floridians age 16 and older, Northeast Florida’s federally-supported vaccination site made a big change that had been in the works.
Starting Tuesday, the site at Gateway Mall will only the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“I saw the site had the one shot and I thought I would take advantage of that,” said Nathan Sellers, who got the J&J vaccine on Tuesday at Gateway Mall.
It was welcome news for many who flocked to pop-up sites around the city last week hoping to get a “one-and-done” vaccine.
By 1 p.m. Tuesday, the Gateway Mall site surpassed the number of first doses given on Monday -- the first day that shots were available to all adults in Florida.
But 16- and 17-year-olds won’t be able to get vaccinated at the site any longer because the Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for teenagers that age.
The Gateway site and its satellite sites have enough Pfizer doses to complete the vaccination process for the people who received the first Pfizer dose before April 5.
The state-run site at Regency Square Mall, the Legends Center, Celebration Church and most county health departments are expected to continue offering the Pfizer vaccine.
“I have two kids, so I wanted them to be safe, which is part of taking the vaccine,” said Neha Ajit, who got a shot at Celebration Church.
Teens must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will have to sign a consent form. (Click here for a printable version of the form.)
Hospitals and pharmacies also might have Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, so it’s best to check what is available before you arrive if you make an appointment.
With the expanded eligibility, sites in Duval County have been so far been more successful in getting shots in arms. On Monday, Jacksonville’s state and federal sites were able to administer 89% of the vaccine supply for the day, state data shows.
