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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: CVS, Other Sites Will Offer Vaccines To School Employees Regardless Of Age

A CVS pharmacy in Orlando, Fla., is one of more than 7,600 stores where the company will stop selling tobacco products by October.
John Raoux
/
The Florida Channel
CVS is giving inoculations in two dozen cities across the state.

His announcement comes after CVS Pharmacy said it would follow President Joe Biden's less restrictive directive to vaccinate school employees regardless of age.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to school employees aged 50 or older, as well as firefighters and police.

But on Thursday at a Crystal River vaccination site, the governor said national pharmacies like CVS and federally run vaccination sites will give the vaccine to school employees regardless of age, as well as day care and preschool workers.

This comes a day after CVS Pharmacy announced it'd be following President Joe Biden's less restrictive directive.

RELATED CONTENT: CVS Offering COVID Vaccine To Florida Teachers Under 50

It began offering vaccines to all teachers and school staff this week. Other sites in the federal pharmacy program include Publix, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, Walgreens and Sam’s Club.

“What the federal government has done is said anybody that works in the school system, regardless of age,” DeSantis said. “So they're able to go and these federal pharmacy sites and the federal site — you're 22, and you're a teacher, you can go get it.”

RELATED CONTENT: Biden Administration Makes Vaccines A Priority For Teachers

DeSantis said national pharmacies and federally run sites can do that, but his focus is still on vaccinating seniors.

“I'm not opposed to someone 20. 22 getting a vaccine,” DeSantis said. “But if we want to save lives, we need to get all the seniors and so that's going to be our priority. That said, the federal government issued that directive."

It's unclear whether state-run sites will be allowed to vaccinate teachers regardless of age.

You can follow vaccine eligibility for state-run vaccination sites here.

Daylina Miller is a multimedia reporter for WUSF and Health News Florida, covering health in the Tampa Bay area and across the state.