All child care workers, teachers given access

Governor says state to follow federal vaccine mandate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a federal mandate that allows teachers, daycare and preschool workers to get vaccinated will be followed in Florida.

Speaking Thursday at coronavirus vaccination sites in Crystal River and Sebring, the governor said a new mandate from the Biden Administration, which directs every state to prioritize all educators for the vaccine, will allow teachers of all ages to get vaccinated at some locations in Florida. An executive order issued by the governor Friday had opened vaccine eligibility only to K-12 teachers 50 and older.

CVS had made the option at its vaccination sites available on Wednesday for all Florida educators regardless of age, and many people had posted on their social media pages that they had done so.

Now Walmart and Publix have announced they would open appointments for teachers of all ages as well. DeSantis said other retail pharmacies and the state’s four new federal mass vaccination sites would likely offer the same opportunity to teachers and childcare workers.

However, state-supported

vaccination sites such as parks and stadiums will vaccinate only K-12 teachers who are 50 or older.

“Teachers who are younger can go to CVS and they will sign you up, but our [sites] are targeting seniors,” DeSantis said. “Our view is, if you’re 25, you’re just at less risk than somebody that’s 80. That’s just the bottom line.”

Along with teachers and law enforcement 50 and older, anyone under 65 who has a doctor’s note about specific medical conditions is now eligible to get the vaccine, under DeSantis’ expanded order.

“We’ve aligned with updated Federal Retail Pharmacy Program guidelines by making appointments available to teachers in all 17 states where we currently offer COVID-19 vaccines,” CVS spokeswoman Tara Burke said on Wednesday.

Burke said CVS soon will have vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to give out, allowing for more appointments.

“Patients will be able to see which CVS Pharmacy location has which vaccine and appointment availability on cvs.com before scheduling. Depending on which vaccine you receive, you will be prompted to schedule a second dose if needed,” she said.

CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy y mas and Navarro Discount Pharmacy kicked off COVID-19 vaccine signups a week ago at pharmacies in at least 13 South Florida counties. You can see a list of locations participating in Broward, MiamiDade and Palm Beach counties here.

Appointments are scheduled at https://www.cvs. com/immunizations/covid19-vaccine.