JACKSONVILLE, Fla — COVID-19 vaccines for individuals 65 years of age and older will be available starting Wednesday in Jacksonville, according to a representative from the Florida Department of Health Duval County.
The vaccinations are expected to take place at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, located at 1000 Water Street, by appointment.
Appointments can be made beginning Wednesday morning by calling 904-253-1140. The phone line will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The line will be closed on New Years Eve and New Years Day.
All patients arriving for an appointment must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing. Patients will not be allowed to use the bathroom during their appointment.
Only healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staff and people 65 and older may schedule an appointment. Those not eligible for an appointment are encouraged to follow the Department of Health Duval County for updates.
The CDC recently recommended that the next priority group for vaccinations would be individuals 75 and older along with essential workers.
In response, Florida Governor DeSantis gave an executive order last week expanding COVID-19 vaccines to now include persons 65 and older.
During phase one, health care workers, those 65 years or older and those at high risk will be allowed to get vaccinated. However, there are some logistical hurdles hospitals must go through first.
Distribution is one of them.
The assistant chief medical officer at UF Health Jacksonville, Chirag Patel, says this is fantastic news to hear.
“This is the first real step we have towards ending this pandemic, and so more access for individuals to get the vaccines the better," said Dr. Patel.
Dr. Patel says he remains cautiously optimistic about the vaccine supply as more manufacturers release their vaccine the supply will improve.
“There are currently about four million individuals in Florida that are 65 years of age and older," Patel said. "Right now my best estimate is that we have about 200 to 300 thousand vaccine courses available in Florida currently."
Patel said having a soft opening is needed to make sure all the logistics are worked out.
“The preparation of this vaccine is complex and getting people in and asking some screening questions prior to administrating the vaccine is really important," Patel said. "Reviewing the consent form with them and having a place to monitor them after getting the vaccine is important."
After getting your vaccine to report any vaccine side effects. The CDC created a smart phone based tool called V-Safe that uses text messaging to provide health check-ins. Depending on your answers someone from CDC may call to check up on you.
V-Safe even reminds you to get you second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
“It was really reassuring for me to know that somebody is still monitoring my well being more than two weeks after I got my first shot," said Patel.
A piece advice Dr. Patel says he would like to give for anyone next in line is to breathe and trust the process.
“Believe me when I tell you I would’ve never taken it if I didn’t think it was safe," Patel explained. "Trust this going to help you in the long run preventing you from getting this deadly illness."
Doctors want to remind you that just because you’re getting a vaccine, you still need to do your part. Wash your hands, wear a mask and stay away from large crowds.
First responders with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department received doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Monday.
JFRD Chief Keith Powers says while the vaccine won’t be required, he does hope that all 1,600-plus JFRD personnel get the vaccine. The companies went through the Prime Osborn Convention Center to get inoculated.
Powers says he and IAFF Local 122 Firefighters Union President Randy Wyse were among 20 to 25 firefighters who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine last Wednesday.
