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Florida Walgreens To Offer COVID-19 Vaccines Beginning Friday

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking outside at the podium, National Guard members with masks on behind him.
Lynne Sladky
/
Associated Press

Speaking in Jacksonville Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that 97 Walgreens around the state will begin offering all three vaccines beginning March 12.

That includes 16 Walgreens stores in Duval County. 

Walgreens will follow Florida’s eligibility guidelines, which at the time of this story’s publication applies to anyone 65 and up, along with Health care personnel with direct patients, K-12 school employees 50 and up, along with sworn law enforcement officers 50 and up.

Eligible Floridians can find more details here

The announcement comes as the eligibility age drops to 60 and older this coming Monday, March 15. DeSantis is expected to lower it to 55 later this month. 

“Once we do the 55 and up, we probably would be able to really open it up more broadly if the supply continues on as we’re doing,” DeSantis said. “And I think these pharmacies are going to play the dominant role in getting it done.” 

DeSantis said his seniors-first approach prioritized those most vulnerable to the disease. “Our hospitalizations for COVID among seniors are down 75 percent just since February 3.”

In other vaccine news, the two federal satellite sites at the Normandy Senior Center and the Hammond Community Center will be closing this weekend, and will bemoving to Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach and the Oceanway Community Center off Sago Avenue.

No appointments will be necessary at these locations.  

Contact Sydney Boles at sboles@wjct.org, or on Twitter at@sydneyboles.

Sydney manages community engagement programs like WJCT News' Coronavirus Texting Service. Originally from the mountains of upstate New York, she relocated to Jacksonville from Kentucky, where she reported on Appalachia's coal industry.