PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis held his second press conference of the day Wednesday, this time in Palm Harbor.
As the governor announced a new pop-up vaccine site in Palm Harbor that will offer about 500 Pfizer shots and 200 Johnson & Johnson shots a day, he said the state won't be getting new shipments of the J&J vaccine "anytime soon." He did say this vaccine site had about a 10-day supply of the J&J vaccine.
Later, he clarified by saying it could be several weeks before the state got a new J&J shipment and encouraged people who may have been waiting to get a J&J shot to get either the Moderna or Pfizer if those shots are available.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management told 10 Tampa Bay the state was initially allocated 175,100 Johnson & Johnson vaccines by the federal for the first week of March. It wasn't until March 15 that the state saw the second allotment of 24,100 doses of the single-shot vaccine.
"As we wait for additional allocations of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the state is prepared to continue to support all current vaccination efforts through Moderna and Pfzier vaccines,"the FDEM wrote.
In addition to announcing the new pop-up vaccine site, DeSantis said both Walgreens and CVS pharmacies will soon have more stores throughout the state offering vaccine appointments.
Calling the vaccines the "bread and butter" of the pharmacies, DeSantis said a total of 223 Walgreens and 182 CVS pharmacies will now offer appointments in Florida. That's in addition to 730 Publix, 204 Walmart and Sam's Clubs and 43 Winn-Dixie's throughout the state.
According to the governor, in Pinellas County, a total of 42 Publix stores, 13 CVS pharmacies, 10 Walmart locations and two Sam's Club stores are offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Wednesday morning in Naples, the governor announced a civics education initiative aimed at teaching students "foundational principles" of our country and our society without "politicized academic fads."
DeSantis on Tuesday outlined how he would like the state to use federal relief funds. Among the recommendations is a $1,000 payment for first responders. In addition, the governor said he hopes to give funding towards modernizing the state's re-employment program, helping the tourism industry, job growth opportunities, and the Florida National Guard.
Gov. DeSantis also dropped the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility age to 60 Monday and said he plans to lower the age to 55 by the end of the month in an effort to give shots to all adults in Florida before President Joe Biden’s goal of May 1.
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