FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – Broward Health is making access to the COVID-19 vaccine available to even more patients with specific medical conditions.
State hospital system officials announced Friday that they will extend the vaccination criteria to anyone 18 years or older who falls under what they describe as ‘increased risk groups’.
Patients with the following medical conditions will be allowed to make an appointment:
- asthma (moderate to severe)
- Cancer
- cerebrovascular disease
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Down syndrome
- heart disease such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy
- hypertension or high blood pressure
- immunocompromised condition due to blood or bone marrow transplantation, immune deficiency, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or the use of debilitating drugs or solid organ transplantation
- liver disease
- neurological conditions, such as dementia
- overweight or obese (body mass index greater than 25)
- pregnancy
- pulmonary fibrosis
- sickle cell disease
- smoke
- thalassemia
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
In another sign that the explosion of vaccines in South Florida is going into high gear, all Publix pharmacies in the provinces of Miami-Dade and Broward, at nearly 140 locations, will start the vaccine by appointment only, starting Monday.
Registration for the Publix appointments began Friday morning and was completed within two hours.
A spokesman for the supermarket chain said they would schedule appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., depending on the availability of vaccines.
The grocery stores join a growing list of pharmacies in South Florida that offer the vaccine.
All Navarro Discount Pharmacies and CVS and more stories in Miami-Dade currently offer photos to seniors.
As part of an ongoing federal program, the Miami Dade College North Campus will become a mass vaccination site that can administer thousands of doses per day starting Wednesday.
Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the clock was ticking to get more shots in the arms.
“In recent weeks, cases and hospital admissions in the United States have been declining since the beginning of January, and deaths have been declining over the past week, but the latest data suggest these declines may stop,” she said. can still rise to a very high level. We at CDC see this as a very worrying shift in the trajectory. ”
Broward Health COVID-19 appointment requests were made available Friday afternoon, but have since been completed and are currently suspended. Officials encourage people to check back regularly for updates.
Click here to see if the appointment is available.
Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
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