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Residents ages 50 and older now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines

Written by: March 19 2021
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PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

Some residents worried about not being eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines are in luck.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday extended the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for Florida. The extension, effective Monday, now allows residents ages 50 and older to receive the vaccine to fight against COVID-19.

“I think we’ll open it up to everybody before May 1, maybe much sooner,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee.

Indian River County on Friday started allowing newly-eligible residents to register for vaccine appointments through the county’s waitlist. County officials noted that those who already have an account with Everbridge Waitlist System and are now eligible under DeSantis’ executive order must update their information so they can start receiving appointments.

Others who are eligible for the doses are:

  • K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
  • Firefighters 50 years of age and older
  • Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
  • Long-term care facility residents and staff
  • Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact
  • Individuals deemed by physicians to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19

The previous age restriction for those eligible for COVID-19 vaccines was 65 years and older.

The Florida Department of Health, along with pharmacies including Publix, are offering the doses across the state. The vaccines – developed by Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen Biotech (Johnson & Johnson) – have all been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Statewide, 2,617,095 people have been fully immunized as of Friday, according to the Florida Department of Health state vaccine summary. In Indian River County, 32,339 individuals have been fully immunized, according to the county-by-county vaccine summary.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Florida increased to 1,999,257, a health department Friday update showed. The number of virus-related deaths increased to 33,273.

Those who want to sign up for the county waitlist should complete the online registration form. Residents who need technical assistance or who do not have the internet can also register by contacting the call center at 772-226-4000.

The call center is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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