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Gov. DeSantis announces 4 new federally supported COVID-19 vaccination sites in Florida

Tampa Greyhound Track one of the new sites
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Posted at 11:32 AM, Feb 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-19 17:11:14-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the White House COVID-19 Task Force announced on Friday the establishment of four COVID-19 vaccination sites in partnership with the federal government in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.

These sites will open on March 3 and will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with each site administering 2,000 vaccines per day according to a release from Gov. DeSantis.

Each site will also have two smaller, mobile satellite sites that will administer 500 vaccinations a day in underserved areas.

“Selection of all of these sites is based on a CDC/FEMA framework that has been developed to target vaccinations to those who are most vulnerable," said Andy Slavitt, Senior Advisor for the White House COVID-19 Response Team, during a Friday White House COVID-19 press briefing.

It's part of the federal government's push to support 100 COVID-19 vaccination sites across the country, with a goal of administering around 450,000 COVID-19 vaccines every day.

“It looks both at social vulnerability index, the outreach that’s needed, whether there’s, the size, as well as what mobile units might be needed," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, during a Friday White House COVID-19 press briefing.

So far, the federal government has worked with California and New York to launch vaccination sites, and today, they announced plans to head to Pennsylvania and Florida as part of an effort to help vaccinate people faster and more equitably.

“There are a number of issues... that are access barriers including, transportation, including the clinical infrastructure, and then, including, I think is important to point out, that even when there is a local availability of vaccines, people from outside of these communities, outside of the hard hit communities, come in, make appointments, and often take some of those doses.” said Slavvitt.

And here in Florida, these new sites will start up by continuing the focus on our seniors.

The state will use the current preregistration system and work with local community organizations to proactively schedule appointments.

To preregister with the statewide system, eligible people can either call the designated phone number for their county or use the website by clicking here.

A list of county-designated phone numbers to preregister by phone is available by clicking here.

The new federally supported sites are listed below:

Tampa Greyhound Track
755 E. Waters Ave.
Tampa, FL 33604

Valencia College – West Campus
1800 S. Kirkman Road
Orlando, FL 32811

Gateway Mall
5200 Norwood Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32208

Miami Dade Community College (North Campus)
11380 NW 27th Ave.
Miami, FL 33167

These sites are opening through a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Defense, the Florida Department of Health, Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida National Guard.