CENTRAL FLORIDA — Starting Monday, Orlando Health is expanding its vaccine distribution program, meaning patients 65 and older in the health care system will be able to make vaccine appointments across Central Florida.
What You Need To Know
- Focus in Florida is the push to get seniors vaccinated
- Vaccine appointments start at 6 locations
- RELATED: Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine in Central Florida: What You Need to Know
Starting Monday Orlando Health will allow seniors 65 and up to make appointments at six locations in Orange, Lake and Osceola counties.
- Orlando Health Emergency Room — Lake Mary, 380 Rinehart Rd., Lake Mary, FL, 32746
- Orlando Health Medical Pavilion — Summerport, 5151 Winter Garden Vineland Rd., Windermere, FL, 34787
- Orlando Health — Health Central Park – Winter Garden, 411 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL, 34787
- Orlando Health Medical Pavilion — St. Cloud, 1330 Budinger Ave., St. Cloud, FL, 34769
- Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute — Downtown Orlando, 1222 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL, 32806
- Orlando Health South Lake Hospital Emergency Room — Blue Cedar, 22316 US Highway 27, Leesburg, FL, 34748
It is part of an expansion to its vaccine distribution program. Leaders said due to limited supply, scheduling information will be communicated directly to those eligible through a randomization process.
Gov. Ron DeSantis made seniors getting the vaccine the focus of his press conference in Bay County on Sunday morning.
"By us putting seniors first, we're doing the right thing by our parents and grandparents. It's the morally right thing to do, it's also the medically right thing to do. It's based on the data, the fact of the matter is, this virus has been more deadly to people who are elderly," said DeSantis.
He spoke at a senior care facility in Bay County, explaining why the elderly need to be prioritized.
“This virus has been more deadly to elderly than the middle aged, so focusing on 65-plus, that is the best thing we can do to reduce morbidity and mortality,” DeSantis said.
Statistics from the Florida Department of Health show more than 235,000 seniors have already received their first dose. Of those, 133,000 are in the 65-74 year old range.
DeSantis said he and other officials are hoping next week the state will get 250,000 more vaccines, and are working with hospitals, Publix and other locations to get the vaccines administered.
“We know who is doing it well we know where to put the vaccine," DeSantis said.
Spectrum News 13 reporter Justin Soto contributed to this story.