Pinellas, Broward Counties To Receive 1st Coronavirus Vaccines

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Broward and Pinellas counties will serve as two of the first Florida counties taking part next week in a pilot coronavirus vaccination effort to distribute Pfizer-BioNTech immunizations to residents and health care workers at skilled nursing facilities.

This initial distribution of vaccines to protect Florida's most vulnerable residents follows the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Long-term care residents and health care personnel are included in Phase 1 of the Florida vaccine distribution plan.

On Thursday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory team met to approve an emergency authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The third phase of the vaccine's use in test participants demonstrated it was 95 percent effective following two doses.

"The arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Pinellas gives us another way to protect the most vulnerable Pinellas residents and health care workers who have been hard hit by the pandemic as well as those who provide their care," said Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County."We are honored to be one of the first two Florida counties to begin the vaccination effort in the state."

"The COVID-19 vaccine is a sign of hope as we address this pandemic in Florida," said Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. "We are still encouraging residents and visitors to take common-sense precautions to protect themselves from the spread of the virus. These include frequent handwashing, wearing masks, maintaining 6 feet of social distancing and staying home if you are feelingsick."

As plans are finalized, DOH-Broward and DOH-Pinellas will release more details on the vaccination plan. Paramedic teams will administer the vaccines.

Coronavirus vaccines from other manufacturers will be available for use at later dates. The FDA advisory team is set to review an emergency authorization submitted by the pharmaceutical company, Moderna, this Thursday. A third-phase test also shows the Moderna vaccine is 95 percent effective.

On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state will initially receive 179,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and is in the process of mobilizing strike teams to provide the first vaccinations at long-term health facilities in Broward and Pinellas counties, two of the counties that have been particularly impacted by coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes.

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