JACKSONVILLE, Fla — More permanent vaccination sites are coming to Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference at Edward Waters College Thursday morning.
A total of six permanent sites will open across the state, including one at the college's James Weldon Johnson Gymnasium located at 1840 West Ninth Street. Residents of the New Town and Northwest Jacksonville neighborhoods 65 years old and older are the only ones who are able to get vaccinated at this site.
"The goal here is to be able to reach out anyone who may fall through the cracks, who [don't] necessarily have access to a retail pharmacy or not necessarily a hospital," DeSantis said.
The vaccinations at the college began Thursday and appointments can be made online by following this link. People can also walk up to the site to get registered and then vaccinated. DeSantis said that roughly 200 vaccines will be available per day and the sites will be open seven days a week from eight a.m. to five p.m.
If the site runs out of doses for the day, people are still able to register at the site for another day. The Moderna site is a partnership with Agape Family Health Services, which will work with private healthcare providers and community organizations to reach out to those who meet the criteria.
"I think it's excellent because I think a lot of people want to [get the vaccine], and I know a lot of people that I've heard of that have been sick all through this area, so I hope everybody takes the shot," Dealven Dawsey, who got the shot Thursday, said.
DeSantis was joined by Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville City Council members Sam Newby and Brenda Priestly Jackson, as well as others from the college and Agape Family Health Services.
Curry said a site in an underserved community makes the vaccine available to those who may otherwise not get it.
"Any time it’s accessible, where it’s easier for people to get from their homes or apartments to the facility to get the vaccination, you’re going to have more people get the vaccine," Curry said.
Edward Waters College's Provost, Donna Oliver, also got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday.
"There's nothing to it," she said. "It didn't even hurt," Oliver said.
"I wanted to get this vaccine to demonstrate to all of our neighbors in the surrounding area that is safe, it's an absolute must come out take advantage, because it might save your life and the life of someone else," Oliver said. "It's important that it's in our communities and our neighborhoods for our people to get it," she said.
DeSantis also talked about vaccination numbers on the First Coast.
He said data suggests that in Duval County more than 55 percent of all seniors have received a shot. In St. Johns County he says 75 percent have received a shot, with Nassau at 67 percent and Clay at 54 percent.
He says these percentages may be even higher due to the delay in reporting. The state average is 50 percent.
Also in attendance at the news conference was Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr.
"Hope is alive and hope is alive because of a plan and a strategy," Curry said. "People are being vaccinated ...Thank God we live in Florida. Schools are open businesses are operating in a safe and responsible way. And we are at a tipping point I believe in the near future to turning the corner and getting back to a sense of normalcy," he said.
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The six state sites are listed below:
Broward College – North Campus
1000 Coconut Creek Blvd
Coconut Creek, FL 33066
Edward Waters College
1658 Kings Road
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Florida A & M University – Al Lawson Gym and Multipurpose Center
1800 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Oak Grove Park - Father Gerard Jean-Juste Community Center
690 NE 159th Street
Miami, FL 33162
Overtown – Parking Lot
1551 NW 1st Ave
Miami, FL 33136
Kissimmee City Chambers Park and Community Center
2380 Smith Street
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Individuals that are interested in being contacted to schedule an appointment at these sites can either call the designated phone number for their county or visit www.myvaccine.fl.gov.
Those who live in Northwest Jacksonville can also register for a vaccine appointment at the new Edward Waters College site here.