PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County will serve as one of the two first Florida counties taking part in a COVID-19 vaccination effort. Broward County will also participate in the effort.
The county said next week, they will take part in a COVID-19 vaccination effort that will prioritize Pfizer-BioNTech immunizations for residents of skilled nursing facilities and those who provide their care.
The initial distribution of vaccines to protect Florida's most vulnerable residents is expected next week.
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LTCF residents and health care personnel are included in Phase 1 of the distribution plan.
"The arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Pinellas gives us another way to protect the most vulnerable Pinellas residents and health-care workers who have been hard hit by the pandemic as well as those who provide their care," said Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas). "We are honored to be one of the first two Florida counties to begin the vaccination effort in the state."
As plans are finalized, the Department of Health in Pinellas will release more details on the vaccination plan.