Vaccine rules are changing

Here’s what residents should know about sites, who is eligible

Starting Monday, Floridians over age 60 are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

People under 60 with “extreme vulnerability” also will have expanded options. They now will be eligible for vaccines at sites run by the Florida Department of Emergency Management, instead of only at pharmacies or sites supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mike Jachles, chairman of the Florida Association of Public Information Officers, said at a news conference Sunday.

That means sites such as Hard Rock Stadium and Marlins Park are offering vaccines to anyone who has a state Department of Health form signed by a doctor.

Teachers and school staff for grades pre-K through 12th grade and ages 18 to 39 have to go to a FEMA site, such as Miami-Dade College’s north campus, Allen Park in North Miami Beach and Miami

Springs, Jachles said.

If they are age 50 or older, they can go to Hard Rock Stadium, Marlins Park or anywhere vaccines are administered.

Currently, you can sign up for a vaccine at many CVS, Winn-Dixie, Walgreens and Wal-Mart pharmacies and all Publix pharmacies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Different locations and providers may have different criteria, so check with them as you sign up.

The Department of Health “pre-registration” website can be found at myvaccine.fl.gov. Residents can be notified directly when appointments near them are available at staterun COVID-19 vaccine sites.

Vaccines are also available with an appointment at a number of other locations such as Tradewinds Park, Tree Tops Park, Markham Park, Snyder Park, Coral Square Mall, Lockhart Park, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and the South Florida Fairgrounds.

People going to wait in line for the vaccine, even with an appointment, are encouraged to bring water, folding chairs and anything else they may need for a wait of an hour or more, Jachles said.