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News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida can help. Our responsibility is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

DeSantis Spells Out Who Will Get Priority When Coronavirus Vaccine Is Available

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Gov. Ron DeSantis
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The governor said residents of long-term care facilities will get first priority when it is available later this month.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans Wednesday to roll out a coronavirus vaccine in as soon as two weeks.

In a 3-minute video message, DeSantis said he anticipates FDA approval for the Pfizer vaccine next week, and the Moderna vaccine the following week.

Once the vaccine is available, the governor said residents in long-term care facilities will get first priority.

“Florida is going to prioritize as follows: the top priority will be our residents of our long-term care facilities,” DeSantis said. “They are at the greatest risk and this vaccine could have a tremendously positive impact on them.

“No. 2 will be health care workers who are in high- risk and high-contact environments.

“And No. 3, to the extent we have enough, we want to start getting it out into the broader, 65 and over community, as well as those who have significant comorbidities,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis repeated his stance that the vaccine “will be available, but not mandated.”

He also spelled out some of the differences in the various vaccines and how this will affect dosage and rollout.

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Carl Lisciandrello is digital news editor of WUSF Public Media.