nursing homes

The plan is for the pharmacy to eventually visit 35,000 facilities and vaccinate 3 million residents. CVS and other companies are also part of the partnership to deliver shots at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Long-term care residents’ participation in the vaccination effort is clouded by a significant complication: More than half have cognitive impairment or dementia.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also directed 21,450 doses be sent to the Florida Department of Health to help at long-term care facilities.

Pinellas will receive about 10,700 doses, which will be distributed by paramedics and nurses, with the National Guard helping with logistics.

Facilities in Pinellas and Broward counties will be the first to administer the Pfizer vaccine to its residents and health care personnel.

More than half - 97,500 doses - will be sent to five hospitals to be administered to high-contact and high-exposure health care personnel, the governor said.

The state ramped up plans to vaccinate seniors with two emergency rules that require facilities to allow representatives from the health department, CVS and Walgreens into the facilities.

A federal advisory committee to the CDC voted Tuesday on guidelines for who should get COVID-19 vaccines first. The committee decided to prioritize health care workers and nursing home residents.

About 40 percent of the COVID-19 deaths in Florida during the pandemic have been linked to long-term care facilities, according to state data.

AARP's Florida director warned of the need remain cautious due to the recent uptick of cases, which could have adverse impacts on nursing homes.