Florida

Florida Vaccine Updates: Baptist Health to Offer Vaccine Appointments; Miami-Dade Sets Up Another Vaccine Site

Here's what we know today about the coronavirus outbreak in Florida, and the effort to stop it

FLORIDA, USA – DECEMBER 30: A healthcare worker gives the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to Patrick Range, Sr, 88, as part of COVID-19 vaccination plan for the seniors at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, United States on December 30, 2020. (Photo by Marco Bello/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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As a limited supply of the coronavirus vaccine has become available across Florida, residents are understandably anxious to know when they will be able to stand in line for a dose.

Across Broward and Miami-Dade counties, vaccines have been distributed in recent days with concern from some about how residents in the area will be able to receive their doses with such a high demand.

Here's what we know today about the coronavirus outbreak in Florida, and the effort to stop it.

Baptist Health to Offer 12,000 Appointments Slots for Vaccine

Baptist Health South Florida announced it will be launching an online platform Friday for eligible members of the community to schedule an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine.


Minutes After Launch, Registration Is Closed for Miami-Dade's Online Vaccine Tool

After about 20 minutes of going live, Miami-Dade’s website, which offered a limited supply of vaccine appointments to those 65 and older, appeared to have already filled up slots.


Miami-Dade Sets up Vaccine Site at Tropical Park

Miami-Dade County has set up a COVID-19 vaccine site at Tropical Park, Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava said. The park is also serving as a COVID-19 testing site.

The drive-thru vaccination site is expected to open Jan. 8th.

"We have limited supply that we're opening up for tomorrow and as more supply becomes available, we'll be posting it on our website," Levine-Cava said. "We are working hard to make sure that people can get the information they need and get the appointments. It is a challenge because there is pent up demand. We have more people who want the vaccine than we have supply of the vaccine."


Miami-Dade Launching Website Tool for COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments

Miami-Dade County on Thursday is launching a new online tool for making appointments to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The county said they were releasing a limited number of appointments to seniors 65 and older at miamidade.gov/vaccine at 2 p.m.

Officials said the county is working to make vaccines available to the county as quickly as possible, but stressed that demand is much greater than supply.


Broward School Board Appeals to Legislators for Teachers to Be in Next Wave for Vaccine

The Broward County School Board has legislative priorities, and to communicate its wishlist, the board members invited Broward legislators to a meeting Wednesday to hear their concerns.

It was a chance for board members and school district officials to discuss a variety of issues with the county’s state representatives and state senators, including a call for school staffers to be next in line, after the elderly and frontline health care workers, to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.


Florida Reports Single-Day Record COVID-19 Cases

Florida shattered its single-day record for COVID-19 cases, reporting more than 17,700 infections Wednesday.

The 17,783 new confirmed COVID-19 cases brought Florida's total to 1,409,906 since the outbreak began, according to figures released by the state's department of health.

Another 129 virus-related deaths among Florida residents were reported, bringing the total to 22,317 Wednesday.


Hard Rock Stadium Testing Site to Give Vaccinations

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens is converting its state-run COVID-19 testing operation into a vaccination site.

The home of the Miami Dolphins will be the first testing site in the state to be converted. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced earlier this week that the state would be converting multiple testing sites into vaccination sites.


NBC 6's Marissa Bagg has more on what those who got the dose Wednesday had to say as the state of Florida continues their fight against the pandemic.

John Knox Village to Give Residents, Staff 2nd Dose of Pfizer Vaccine

The Pompano Beach assisted living facility will give 90 residents and 80 members of their staff a second dose on Wednesday, completing the inoculation required. An additional 50 staff members will receive their first dose of the vaccine as well.


‘All Hands on Deck': Miami-Dade Works to Administer Covid Vaccinations to Seniors

Leaders in Miami-Dade County said they're working to quickly but safely administer COVID-19 vaccines to anyone over 65 who wants one.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the county's vaccination plan, and was joined by the mayors of the City of Miami and Miami Beach as well as local hospital executives.

Levine Cava said over 30,000 people have been vaccinated in Miami-Dade including healthcare workers and seniors 65 and older. There are more than 465,000 residents in the county who are 65 or older.


‘It's Baloney': Broward Residents Express Frustrations Over Vaccine Rollout

Frustration was being expressed by some Broward residents who thought they had made it through the Department of Health website and scheduled their appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine shot, but showed up to find out they wouldn’t be injected.

"It's baloney," Georgette Bannan said.

On Tuesday afternoon Bannan said that no one from the department had followed up with her after her emotional Monday afternoon when she and her mother thought they were all set to receive the shots, only to be told they didn’t have appointments.

Broward Mayor Steve Geller said residents are reaching out to him pleading for help. Some are asking for special treatment, which he emphasized doesn’t exist.


More Covid Vaccination Sites Opening in Broward This Week: Mayor

More COVID-19 vaccination sites will be opening in Broward this week, the county's mayor said Tuesday.

Mayor Steve Geller held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the county's vaccination plans, which includes distrtibution sites at Broward parks.

Vaccinations are being distributed to seniors at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek and Vista View Park in Davie, with another site opening at Markham Park in Sunrise Tuesday, Geller said.

Another vaccination site will open at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, and at Central Park in Lauderhill on Friday, with another 3-5 sites possibly opening in the next two weeks or so, Geller said.


Publix to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines at Select Stores in Florida

The COVID-19 vaccine will be available at select Publix pharmacies in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties starting this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday.

There is no word on whether the vaccine will be available in the near future at Publix pharmacies in other parts of Florida. The supermarket chain did say it was working with the six other states in its operating area to distribute vaccines.

In a collaboration between Publix Super Markets Inc. and the Florida Department of Health, the supermarket chain will be able to distribute approximately 15,000 Moderna vaccines to customers ages 65 and older.

During a Wednesday event in Pensacola, DeSantis said he would see how the vaccinations went before deciding whether to expand them to stores across Florida.

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