ORLANDO, Fla. — The federal government approved giving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to young people ages 12 to 15 Wednesday, and state and county officials are beginning to roll out their plans to do that.

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Getting everyone vaccinated in the O’Donnell home has been a long time coming.  

“They’ve been concerned. They’ve been concerned with me teaching outside the home,” said Ann O’Donnell.

Ann O’Donnell and her family worried she could have brought the coronavirus into the home. 

The concern is subsiding — Ann, her husband and her 17-year-old daughter have all been vaccinated. 

Now, it’s her 15-year-old daughter’s turn.

“Weighed the benefits versus the risks and felt it was more important to have the vaccine,” said O’Donnell.

Ann’s 15 year-old daughter has a vaccine appointment next week. 

Seminole County opened up appointments for 12 to 15 year olds Wednesday night, and to accommodate the new age group, they tripled the amount of appointments available at the Oviedo Mall — going from 240 to 800 per day.   

More than half of those spots filled up quickly.

County leaders are hoping the new eligibility brings out the entire family for vaccinations. 

Steven Learner is the senior planner for Seminole County Emergency Management. 

“Make it a family affair to come and get the shot, so everybody can be vaccinated together,” said Learner. 

In Seminole County, 1,329 people in the 12 to 15-year-old age group have tested positive for the coronavirus — 14 have been hospitalized. 

Donna Walsh is the health officer for Florida Department of Health in Seminole County.

“Younger people suffer less complications from this virus, however, that doesn’t make them exempt from complications,” said Walsh.

And to reach as many in this age group as possible, Seminole County will start offering vaccinations at area high schools.

County-by-county vaccine information

Spectrum News is contacting each county to get answers. Some counties are still working on plans, while others have announced they will roll out the vaccine this week. We will update this story as we get more answers from county officials.

BREVARD COUNTY

We are waiting to hear back.

FLAGLER COUNTY

We are waiting to hear back.

LAKE COUNTY

  • Once approved, they will be administered at all Department of Health-Lake Immunization site locations.  More information will be shared as it becomes available. For COVID questions and locations, call the DOH-Lake COVID-19 Hotline at (352) 801-2755 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The Health Department also is teaming up with Lake County Schools for the following events:
    • May 18: Carver Middle School, 1200 Bleecher Street in Leesburg, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
    • May 19: East Ridge Middle School, 13201 Excalbur Road in Clermont, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • May 19: Cecil E. Gray Middle School, 205 E. Magnolia Street in Groveland, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    • May 20: Eustis Middle School, 18725 E. Bates Avenue in Eustis, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
      • Times, dates and locations for the second dose of the Pfizer-brand vaccine will be announced at a later time.

MARION COUNTY

  • DOH-Marion has several walk-up (no appointment needed) vaccination opportunities at Paddock Mall (3100 SW College Road in Ocala) in the days ahead. Go to the mall entrance closest to Belk department store to receive your vaccine.
    • May 17: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • May 20: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • May 24: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

ORANGE COUNTY

  • The Florida Department of Health in Orange County, in partnership with Orange County, is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations for ages 12 and up at the county's four Recreation Centers (Magic Gyms) and at the county's Barnett Park site. Walk-ups welcome, no appointments required. A parent or legal guardian with identification must accompany any minor receiving a vaccine. In addition, a completed consent form is required.

    • Goldenrod Park Recreation Center Gymnasium, 4863 N Goldenrod Road in Winter Park.
      Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached.
    • Meadow Woods Recreation Center Gymnasium, 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle in Orlando.
      Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached.
    • South Econ Recreation Center Gymnasium, 3850 S. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando.
      Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached.
    • West Orange Recreation Center Gymnasium, 309 SW Crown Point Road in Winter Garden.
      Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached.
    • Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Up to 750 Pfizer-brand vaccines will be administered daily. If the site reaches capacity, it will close early. Look for signs at the park directing you to the vaccination site.
  • Orange County Public Schools is now offering COVID-19 one-day vaccinations clinics at the schools listed below. the clinics are open to the public (12 years old and up). Walk-ups welcome, no appointments required. A parent or legal guardian with identification must accompany any minor receiving a vaccine. In addition, a completed consent form is required. Students should bring a student ID, too.
    • Wekiva High School, 2501 Hiawassee Road in Apopka, May 15, from 8 a.m. to noon or until supplies are exhausted
    • East River High School, 650 E. River Falcons Way in Orlando, May 15, from 8 a.m. to noon or until supplies are exhausted

OSCEOLA COUNTY

  • The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County will be providing the Pfizer vaccine to those 12 to 15 years of age at our main vaccination site at Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos Church (1130 Simmons Road in Kissimmee).  Vaccinations are administered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The site operating hours will extend one hour beyond the last appointment time to accommodate those without appointments. Those younger than 18 must provide a completed consent form and have a parent of legal guardian present at the time of vaccination. 

    Appointments can be scheduled at https://myvaccine.fl.gov.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

  • Vaccine eligibility now includes Seminole County's 28,000 children and teens ages 12-15. Make an appointment by visiting PrepareSeminole.org or calling the Citizens Information Line (Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at 407-665-0000. A parent or legal guardian with identification must accompany any minor receiving a vaccine.
  • The following locations are administering the Pfizer-brand vaccine to individuals 12 years old and up.
    • Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Boulevard, Oviedo (entrance nearest the Food Court, between the Paul Mitchell School and Oyishi Japanese Steakhouse), Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Seminole County North Branch Library, 150 N. Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you would like to schedule an appointment but do not have internet access to register at prepareseminole.org, call 407-665-0000.
    • Seminole State College (main campus, Building C), 100 Weldon Boulevard in Sanford, on May 14, from noon to 7 p.m., and May 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • RELATED: Seminole County bringing Pfizer vaccine to high schools

SUMTER COUNTY

  • The Sumter County Health Department does not currently plan on receiving the Pfizer-brand vaccine because it currently has supplies of Moderna. The county is working with local partners to plan the rollout of the Pfizer vaccines to the new age group. However, no updates are available to share at this time.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

  • Volusia County says it will used a multilayered approach consisting of the elements below:
    • The school district's school health program modeled after the flu vaccine plan will be used.
    • Vaccination sites at health department locations will be established.
    • Vaccination sites currently administering the Pfizer vaccine (hospitals, community clinics, doctor offices and pharmacies) will be engaged.
  • A timeline for these efforts will be finalized after these recommendations are released. Volusia County has approximately 22,018 residents age 12 to 15.