Younger patients without doctor’s letters get COVID-19 vaccines at Miami Dade College

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. At the FEMA-backed, state-run COVID-19 vaccination site on the North Campus of Miami Dade College, the official rule is that if you are under 65 with underlying health conditions, you need a doctor’s letter to get a chance .

But several young adults we spoke to say they got a vaccine without it.

“I think it’s great for people to be vaccinated so we can come back to life as before,” said Sebastian Davalos, 22.

Davalos said he does not have an underlying health condition. He was asked if he had a doctor’s letter, but said he did not.

‘Register yourself, you’ll get the vaccine. It’s as easy as that, ”he said.

Local 10 News also spoke to Stephany Lopez (29) and her husband David Marquez (28)

“They asked for our license, and that’s it,” says Marquez, who admits he and his wife do not have doctor’s letters or underlying health conditions.

The couple was at the vaccine on Tuesday with their daughter, who turns 15 on Wednesday. They have heard from friends that those who work at the site do not check doctors’ letters.

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“We thought if we asked for the doctor’s letter we would go back home, but we want to take the risk because we think it’s worth it,” Lopez said. “We want [our daughter] to be able to see her grandparents. ”

Some people waited hours on Tuesday to secure a parking spot at the Miami Dade College vaccine site, but said the actual process from registration to dose administration took less than an hour. The site can take about 3,000 shots daily.

On Monday, Jackson Jackson Health System separately announced that it will expand access to vaccines and does not require documentation for people confirming they have a high-risk condition.

Memorial Healthcare System and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital have joined Jackson and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to extend vaccinations to patients aged 16 and 17 years. At DiMaggio, they must be a Florida resident or a seasonal resident, and they must have completed a doctor’s office for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, or a visit to the JDCH or Memorial Healthcare System, 24/7 clinic, urgent care centers, or hospitals within the last twelve months for one of the qualifying high-risk medical conditions. ” Click here for more information.

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As for the FEMA-supported sites, Wednesday is the last day for the satellite sites in Florida City and Sweetwater before moving to new satellites in North Miami Beach and Miami Springs. The Miami Dade College North campus site remains in place. Click here for more information on the changes.

On Saturday, the Florida City yard also vaccinated someone who was 18 years or older with a doctor’s letter or not, because the demand for shots was low.

According to experts in infectious diseases, the general goal remains to get shots in the arms to move the community closer to a version of the old normal.

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“As long as we move in this direction, we can return to a fairly normal lifestyle,” said Dr. Aileen Marty of Florida International University said.