Expanding COVID-19 Vaccinations
March 12, 2021
On March 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued and signed Executive Order 21-47 to be effective as of March 3. Executive Order 21-47 amends Executive Order 21-46 to expand the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to persons under age 65 who have been considered as vulnerable to COVD-19 by their physicians. According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), as of March 11, 3,895,656 people in Florida have been vaccinated.
Effective as of March 3, the following are also eligible to be administered COVID-19 vaccines:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff, including employees in healthcare who directly contact patients.
- Individuals who are at least 65 years old.
- Staff and faculty members for K-12 school above the age of 50.
- Employees above the age of 50.
- Official law enforcement officers and firefighters who are at least 50 years old.
Also as stated in Executive Order 21-47, among hospital providers, state-licensed physicians may also administer COVID-19 vaccines to individuals who are vulnerable to COVID-19, including individuals under the age of 50. In addition, advanced practice registered nurses and licensed pharmacists may also administer COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 under the age of 50 if a physician has approved or determined the individual as eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.