Leon County’s health department is set to receive thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the company Moderna. Florida’s governor anticipates the Moderna vaccine arriving in the state next week.
On Tuesday, The Florida Department of Health in Leon County shared the news: The county will be one of several in Florida participating in a pilot program to inoculate people against COVID-19.
The health department says it anticipates receiving 2,500 doses of the vaccine as early as next week. Staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities will be first in line to get those shots.
Florida began vaccinating people with the company Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine this week. The Moderna vaccine will be the first immunization to arrive in Leon.
Governor Ron DeSantis says he anticipates the feds will give it emergency use authorization by the week’s end.
“Thursday we anticipate a recommendation for the Moderna vaccine, and I think you’ll get an EUA issued by Friday night. I spoke with the FDA Commissioner this weekend – that was basically what they did for Pfizer, so I think the timetable will be similar,” DeSantis said during a press conference Tuesday.
DeSantis says the state will get about 370,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine initially. The federal Food and Drug Administration has evaluated the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses, as 94% effective.
