ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced there would be expanded vaccine eligibility for law enforcement and teachers, age 50 and older at federal COVID-19 sites.

They’ll be able to get the shots at a FEMA Vaccination Site, set to open on the Valencia West campus on March 3.

Nearly 30 states across the country currently offer a coronavirus vaccine to school teachers. Florida is not one of them. Now some teachers in the state, as well as some members law enforcement, will be able to roll up their sleeves.

When Florida began offering the coronavirus vaccine, school teachers like Judy Ngying and members of law enforcement like Edgewood Chief of Police John Freeburg were left out.

Tuesday DeSantis said not only would the FEMA site in Orlando offer vaccines to residents 65 and older, but to others as well.

According to the governor, the FEMA site in Orlando will offer the vaccine to members of law enforcement, the fire department, and classroom teachers.

Over the summer, teachers were given the option to teach on campus or from home, but now many feel they don't have a choice when it comes to educating their students.

"I was actually teaching virtual for first semester and I was called back to the classroom,” Lake Howell High science teacher Judy Ngying said. “They (the school) needed me, because so many kids came back because they were not successful."

Orange County Public Schools teacher Amy Modesto was thrilled at the prospect of getting vaccinated.

“I’m very excited I’m very happy,” said Amy Modesto.

Her daughter Ashley said her mom finally being eligible for a vaccine is a huge relief.

“I am very happy my mom is able to get the vaccine … she's my hero … she is definitely the most important person in my world and I want to have my mom safe,” she said.

But Amy still has a lot of fear about the virus, just not for herself.

“It still does frighten me for my children,” she said, explaining that teaching is the family business.

Both of her daughters teach at Orange County high schools.

“They are such wonderful teachers, I’ve seen how dedicated they are,” Amy said.

But since they’re under the age of 50, they won’t get the vaccine yet, despite both having class sizes of almost 30 students.

“I’ve had quite a few students who’ve had COVID and quarantined,” Ashley said.

So while she feels some safety for herself, Amy won’t be completely at ease until the daughters who followed her into this career, get that same protection. ​

“Not totally be out of the woods but feel a little more safe,” Amy said.

 DeSantis reiterated that the expanded eligibility announced Tuesday is not for all teachers and first responders.

“Any sworn law enforcement officer, teacher I think we will start at age 50 or above,” DeSantis said.

It’s great news for Freeburg who turned 50 in November, and has a department of less than 20 officers.

“The impact on a smaller agency can be big,” Freeburg said.” “One or two officers get exposed or unfortunately will get COVID, it can have an impact on our agency.”

Ngying who is 58 and would be eligible says it’s still not enough.

“I think that is excluding a lot of teachers, and that doesn’t make any sense,” Ngying said. “To me I don’t know why all the teachers would not be included in that.”

Vaccinations at Valencia West are expected to begin next week.

Spectrum News 13 reached out to the governor’s office to see if this new group will be eligible for the vaccine as soon as this site opens, but did not hear back.

News 13 also asked FEMA if it had been made aware of the new eligibility, but did not hear back before publication.