Vaccine access is available for Floridians 60 years and older

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Florida has drafted COVID-19 vaccines for anyone 60 years and older. While lowering the age of 65 was expected to bring a new wave of people to state and federal websites, and more shots for shots at retail pharmacies, the lines to get vaccinated were short.

At the vaccination site by the Federal Emergency Management Agency at Gateway Mall, many people told News4Jax on Monday that they were eager to be vaccinated and were surprised to see the line so short.

Arvia Gilmore said she was shocked that there was no waiting and that there had to be many shots when she arrived at the yard to be vaccinated.

“Just give people a chance,” Gilmore said.

News4Jax also checked the state-run vaccination site at Regency Square Mall on Monday and found that the line is short and that no appointments are needed.

The latest statistics from Florida’s Department of Health show that 4,252,250 people in the state have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 2,279,646 completed their shot regiment, either the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna options.

Florida has more than 21.4 million residents, including 17.7 million residents who are 16 years of age and older and would be eligible for at least one of the vaccination options if no age restrictions were imposed by the state.

The extended age criteria come because Florida on Monday had 99 more coronavirus-related deaths, for a total of 32,959. The state also reported 2,826 additional COVID-19 cases to bring the total to 1,979,634.

Lowering the age to 60 to be vaccinated is a supplement to the vaccination of leading health workers, school staff, law enforcement and firefighters of 50 years; people of all ages with a doctor’s letter stating that they are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19, and caregivers of all who are eligible for the vaccine.

David Cox, who got a chance at the vaccination center at Gateway Mall, said it was time to lower the age requirement even more.

“I think they should,” Cox said. “People die because you’re just ignorant and blame ‘I can’t get enough’.”

Larry Jones, 64, said he knows the concerns many African Americans have about the vaccine. But he said they should not wait and he believes the Gateway Mall website should now be open to all age groups.

“I think the sooner they lower it, the more people will be vaccinated,” Jones told News4Jax after being vaccinated.

DeSantis said last week that after the state made people 60 years and older eligible for the vaccine, it would soon lower the age to 55 and then likely open it up to the rest of the population.

RELATED: Where to Find a COVID-19 Vaccine in Northeast Florida

In addition to the major vaccination centers at Gateway Mall and Regency Square Mall, two smaller federal vaccination centers opened Sunday at the Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach and the Oceanway Center on the Northside of Jacksonville.

The Gateway Mall site is expected to be open until May 3rd. Workers hope it will become busier as the age restrictions are further reduced.

Vaccination vaccines are also available at most Publix and Walmart pharmacies and at some Winn-Dixie, CVS and Walmart stores. Visit myvaccine.fl.gov to find a website near you.

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