DeSantis announces state distribution plan, 4 SWFL locations for Moderna vaccine

Published: Updated:
FILE – In this July 27, 2020, file photo, nurse Kathe Olmstead prepares a shot that is part of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., in Binghamton, N.Y. Moderna said Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, its COVID-19 shot provides strong protection against the coronavirus that’s surging in the U.S. and around the world. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

NOTE: No COVID-19 vaccine is currently available to the general public on request.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s initial distribution plan for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday night.

Florida is preparing to receive 367,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine after Sunday, pending Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Doses of the vaccine will be distributed to 173 hospital locations spanning 43 counties that did not receive doses in the first allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The state is able to distribute the Moderna vaccine to a large number of hospitals because it does not require ultra-cold storage.

Upon Moderna’s approval, four Southwest Florida hospitals will receive the vaccine:

Park Royal says its doses will be used for vaccinating its staff.

Floridians can receive updates about the COVID-19 vaccine by texting FLCOVID19 to 888777.

NCH release the following statement on the COVID-19 vaccine coming to NCH:

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is being reviewed today by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Pending approval, the State of Florida is preparing to receive 367,000 doses of the vaccine. Both NCH North Naples Hospital and NCH Baker Hospital have been selected among the 173 hospital locations to receive a shipment of the vaccine. Vaccine may arrive at NCH as early as the first half of next week.

The vaccine allocation coming to NCH is unknown at this time, however, we anticipate initial supply to be limited. Limited supply means that distribution programs, which are regulated at the state level, must initially focus on specific high-risk groups as required and defined by the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH). High risk includes front line clinical staff with the greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure. Upon receipt of the vaccine, NCH will begin vaccinating those healthcare workers identified at high occupational risk at both the Baker and North Naples campus.

NCH does not yet have authorization to vaccinate patients or the general public, but recommendations for target groups are likely to change as vaccine becomes readily available.

As a vaccine administrator, NCH is required to enter vaccination information into the Florida SHOTS program. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory in order to insure receiving future vaccine allocations. Compliance means that we are administering the vaccine to the priority population group identified by the state. More information regarding the state vaccine distribution plan can be found here: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/covid-19-vaccines-in-florida/.

We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. Members of the community can also speak with their primary care physician about any questions they may have surrounding the vaccine.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.