CVS offers virus vaccines to teachers in Florida under 50

MIAMI The CVS Pharmacy chain vaccinates teachers in Florida under the age of 50 and circumvents orders restricting coronavirus vaccinations to those older than that age.

The chain also began vaccinating daycare and preschool teachers on Wednesday, though the Florida government, Ron DeSantis, has not yet opened the vaccination program for them. CVS provides vaccinations in two dozen cities across the state.

CVS said it follows the Biden administration guidelines unveiled this week, which are broader for educators than Florida. For teachers, Florida limits the vaccine to class teachers 50 years and older who work up to 12th in kindergarten. According to federal guidelines, day care workers, preschool teachers and educators in primary, middle and high schools can be vaccinated without age limit.

LINK: Where the COVID-19 vaccine is now available at CVS Pharmacy

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“We have complied with updated Federal Retail Pharmacy Program guidelines by making appointments available to pre-K through 12 educators and staff and child care workers in all 17 states where we currently offer COVID-19 vaccines,” the Rhode Island said. based company said a statement.

The chain is working with DeSantis to expand the availability of vaccines. The executives held a press conference with the governor last week when the chain announced that Latino-targeted subsidiaries in Miami-Dade County, Navarro Discount Pharmacies and CVS y Mas would offer the vaccine.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal retail pharmacy program will prioritize all school and child care staff this month, following President Joe Biden’s mandate Tuesday. Other pharmacy chains participating in the program in Florida include Publix, Walmart and Walgreens, but it was not clear if they would also start vaccinating younger educators.

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The governor’s press office declined to comment on CVS’s decision.

The Florida Education Association, the state teachers union, said it was still trying to confirm that younger teachers get shots.

Tracey Burger, a 49-year-old English teacher in Miami high school, said Wednesday that she was disappointed when DeSantis announced last week that she would not make the move. Burger has barely left her home since schools closed a year ago when the pandemic began.

Early Wednesday, a colleague warned her that the CVS Health website was getting younger teachers to make appointments after Biden’s announcement. She got an appointment for Saturday.

“I started crying from relief that I was on my way to 95% prevention,” she said. “I would still wear my mask and keep my distance socially, but I might consider going to an outdoor restaurant or doing a show right now.”

Jennifer Milian, 41, an art teacher in elementary schools in Miami, said a colleague texted her early Wednesday to let her know that CVS opens appointments for teachers of all ages.

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“I almost did not believe it was true,” said Milian, who immediately called her husband, also a teacher, and asked to see it. He soon sent computer screenshots with the confirmation for Thursday appointments.

“I was on the lookout for a while to see when it would be our turn,” she said. “It turns out it was magical today.”

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Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.