Eligibility for the vaccine is open to Floridians 60 years of age or older

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida opened COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 60 years of age or older on Monday. While the reduction in age from age 65 was expected to bring a new wave of people to state and federal locations and lead to more enrollment in retail pharmacies, lines for vaccination remained brief.

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

Arvia Gilmore said she was surprised she hadn’t waited and there were a lot of shots when she arrived at the site to get vaccinated.

“Let people get the shot,” Gilmore said.

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

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

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Florida has more than 21.4 million residents, including 17.7 million residents 16 years of age and older and would be eligible for at least one of the vaccine options if the state does not impose age restrictions.

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

Reducing the age to 60 for vaccination is added to the continued vaccination of front-line health workers, school staff, law enforcement and 50-year-old firefighters, people of any age. age with a medical note certifying that they are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. , and caregivers of any person eligible for the vaccine.

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David Cox, who was shot at the Gateway Mall vaccination site, said it’s time to further reduce the age requirement.

“I think they should,” Cox said. “People die because you’re just ignoring them and blaming them.” I can’t get enough. “

Larry Jones, 64, said he knows the concerns many African Americans have about vaccination. But he said they shouldn’t wait and believes the Gateway Mall site should now be open to all age groups.

“I think the sooner they get it down, the more people will get vaccinated,” Jones told News4Jax after getting vaccinated.

DeSantis said last week that after the state makes people 60 or older eligible for the vaccine, it will soon reduce the age to 55 and probably open it to the rest of the population.

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RELATED: Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Northeast Florida

In addition to the large Gateway Mall and Regency Square Mall vaccination sites, two smaller federal vaccination sites opened Sunday at Jacksonville Beach’s Carver Center and North Jacksonville’s Oceanway Center.

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

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

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