:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-30-2020/t_c85dae11c6a84448ac3e7021be2e20c0_name_t_f9d9810f15744620b919330c6aeb7108_name_image.jpg "Vaccination Available to Jacksonville Residents 65+ from Monday; appointments open Wednesday")
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Appointments for Jacksonville residents 65 years and older and any health care professional who has not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine can receive their first dose of the vaccine from Monday, according to the Florida Department of Health in Duval County.
Duval County residents who meet one of the criteria to get a vaccine can make an appointment to start Wednesday at 8 p.m. Appointments can be made every weekday between 08:00 and 17:00, except New Year’s Eve and Day. Call 904-253-1140 for an appointment, but remember that there can be long waits to get through.
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The vaccines will be given at the Prime Osborn Conference Center. It is free and a second dose is needed to be effective.
Before making an appointment, know that:
- Individuals must live in Duval County.
- Proof of residence is required during the appointment (driver’s license, JEA account, or any other form of identification showing your home address).
- There are no toilets available for use during the appointment.
Jacksonville firefighters, who began getting the vaccine last Thursday, will help hand out the shots. Walk-in was not allowed.
The health department’s commander COVID-19 and registered nurse Tawanda Washington said the priority is to get people over 65 vaccinated quickly.
“We want to start vaccinating as soon as possible so we can see that some of us 65 and older living in the community are vaccinated before the new year, even if they are not in a long-term care facility,” Washington said.
Washington said her team is working with local hospitals to provide medical care providers who are not affiliated with hospitals. This will include local doctors’ offices and pharmacies.
Washington said Jacksonville Sheriff’s staff, private ambulance personnel and prison inmates will be high on the list. She said the prison in Duval County has a large population in a small area, so it’s important to vaccinate there.
Rein Vandervelde, a physical therapist for home health care, said the vaccine is a moment he has been waiting for.
“We even treat COVID patients who are not sick enough to go to the hospital, but stay home themselves and are placed in quarantine,” Vandervelde said.
Vandervelde cares for many patients at their homes, including 65-year-old Dana Parker, who has been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome.
“I would feel much better if I had (the) vaccine,” Parker said. “I’m not afraid of that. I’m more scared without it. ”
We @CityofJax employees 65 and older are provided # COVID-19 vaccine. This will enable these critical employees to continue to provide integrated public services to the people of #Jacksonville. Direction is sent by our CAO today.
– Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) 29 December 2020
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Some who work in private healthcare, like Jacque Dennie, desperately want the vaccine and feel that they have fallen through the cracks.
“I just really went out of my way to get answers for my nurses,” said Dennie of Fletcher’s Home Care. “They do not work in the hospital. They do not work at the nursing homes. And yet they care for more than medically complicated children in our area and they also want the vaccine. ‘
Some senior citizens in Central Florida began getting vaccines on Tuesday. Seminole County became the first in the state when it began firing near the food court in the Oviedo Mall Tuesday afternoon.
Lee Constantine, chairman of Seminole County, said. ‘This is a very exciting day for all of us and especially for our residents. It’s also a great day for the state of Florida, because again, starting now, we’ll save lives one at a time. ”
Frontline workers at local hospitals first began receiving their shots in UF Health Jacksonville two weeks ago, followed by other medical centers. CVS and Walgreen’s are currently working with the state to vaccinate staff and residents at long-term care facilities.
News4Jax is working to find out more about the appointments, availability and locations for vaccines in Jacksonville and surrounding counties. We will have details on locations and times and how to sign up as soon as it is available.
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