TALLAHASSEE – On Jan. 22, the Florida Department of Health issued an update on the progress of the state’s vaccination efforts, as well as its weekly COVID-19 update. The State of Florida is in its sixth week of vaccine distribution and is continuing to increase vaccine access statewide.

Florida is also one of only three states to administer vaccines to more than one million people.

To date, 96 percent of nursing homes have self-reported that they have residents and/or staff who have received the vaccine statewide. Additionally, to date, 44 percent of assisted living facilities have self-reported that they have residents and/or staff who have received the vaccine statewide.

This week, new actions to continue Florida’s proactive approach to vaccinations includes the following:

Vaccinations:
To provide Floridians with the latest information about vaccinations in the state, the Florida Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccine report that is updated daily. This report includes information on the COVID-19 vaccine by county, race, sex and age. Find the COVID-19 vaccine report at: http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/vaccine/vaccine_report_latest.pdf

As of Jan. 22, at 7 a.m., 1,249,804 individuals have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Florida. At this time, more than 100 mass vaccination clinics for those 65 and older are planned to take place in the coming weeks through county health departments. As more vaccine becomes available, that number is expected to increase.

The Florida Department of Health continues to provide updates on cases, testing, and fatalities related to COVID-19. Please find all daily reports at: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/.

State of Florida Vaccine Accomplishments To-Date:
Week Six (Underway)
 • This week, Governor DeSantis joined decorated World War II veteran and centenarian Henry Sayler to witness Sayler receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This moment commemorates Florida nearing 1 million seniors vaccinated in the state. More information is available at: http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/vaccine/vaccine_report_latest.pdf

• This week, Governor DeSantis highlighted Florida’s momentum on vaccinating seniors ages 65 and older. Florida was the first state in the nation to vaccinate more than 500,000 individuals 65 years of age or older and is one of only three states to administer vaccines to more than one million people. According to publicly available data, Florida continues to have the highest percentage of vaccines administered to seniors 65 and older, with vaccinations in that age bracket accounting for nearly 65% of total vaccinations in the state. More information is available at: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

• Governor DeSantis continues to be committed to preventing vaccine tourism in Florida. This week, State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees issued a Public Health Advisory for the prioritization of Floridians for the COVID-19 vaccinations in Florida. Eligible COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Florida must be able to demonstrate residency consistent with the criteria set forth in F.S. 381.986(5)(b), or be an individual present in Florida for the purpose of providing health care involving direct contact with patients, in order to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The full Public Health Advisory is available at: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Prioritization-of-Floridans-for-Covid-19-Vaccinations.pdf

• The state continues to expand the partnership with Publix to increase vaccine access statewide. This week, Governor DeSantis announced additional 137 Publix locations that will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations. In total, 242 Publix locations across 18 counties offer COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals 65 and older, as well as frontline health care workers. More information is available at: https://www.flgov.com/2021/01/19/governor-ron-desantis-announces-additional-covid-19-vaccination-sites-at-publix-super-markets-3/

• At the Governor’s direction, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health continue to identify places of worship and other locations in underserved communities where the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered. This week, two additional locations were established in local communities. Each site will administer 500 doses of the vaccine. All appointments for these locations have been filled and walk-ups will not be accepted. 

• Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, nearly 200 vaccination sites have been opened statewide in partnership with local communities and hospitals. The Florida Department of Health continues to identify active vaccine sites. All vaccine sites in Florida are posted on the Florida Department of Health’s website at: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/