Vaccines

Leon County’s COVID-19 positivity rate continues to fall. The county has recorded three cases of the U.K. coronavirus variant, and is on the lookout for a post-Super Bowl bump in infections.

To get a COVID-19 vaccine, seniors in many counties across the state must set their appointments online. But some rural health departments in the Panhandle are taking a low-tech approach to scheduling.

Emphasizing that his focus remains on Florida's elderly population, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said teachers and school staff should not expect to be prioritized for vaccination against COVID-19 --- at least for now.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday asked Floridians to be patient as COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out for the state’s seniors, a process that is already creating a rush and placing a substantial burden on hospitals that play a key role in carrying out the governor’s directives.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is relying on Florida hospitals to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to health care workers, seniors and at-risk populations in the communities the hospitals serve.It’s a task that some hospitals fear could be impossible given the state’s large senior population.

Leon County seniors will soon start receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Beginning Dec. 31, the Leon County Health Department will offer drive-through vaccinations for people 65 and older along with high-risk frontline healthcare workers.

COVID-19 has altered many holiday traditions – a painful footnote to 2020. While we lament the lack of large holiday gatherings and packed entertainment venues, vaccines are bringing hope for some normalcy in 2021. We hear from Tallahassee Community Chorus Artistic Director Michael Hanawalt and infectious disease specialist Dr. Perry Brown, a professor at the Institute of Public Health at Florida A&M University.

Now that the state has received initial shipments of the Pfizer vaccine, health workers and long-term care residents are starting to get their shots. More doses from Moderna could arrive in the state as soon as next week.

Florida will receive 179,400 doses of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine in its first shipment from the federal government, Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a video recording released Thursday evening.

Participating in a White House vaccine summit on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined what appeared to be the state’s final COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.