There are 10 residents of the West Piedmont Health District dead today from COVID-19, the second-highest single-day total since the pandemic began. These deaths could have occurred earlier -- VDH awaits death certificates before posting the data -- but it was remarkable surge in what has been the nation's deadliest month. Five of the deaths were of Henry County residents, 4 were from Martinsville and 1 from Franklin County. That's now 170 deaths in the district, with 109 of them residents of Henry County and Martinsville. There also were 109 more cases and 4 more hospitalizations reported by VDH. Henry County had 52 cases, and Franklin County had 30 (and a hospitalization). Patrick County had 14 and Martinsville 13 (with 3 hospitalizations)....As officials at the West Piedmont Health Districts and their medical partners and employment centers are starting the process of delivering the first of the two required injections, there is new leadership in place at Sovah Health-Martinsville....Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday he feels the frustration of Virginians who cannot get a clear answer on how to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine....Only half of COVID-19 vaccinesdelivered to US states have been used, but Biden administration officials say some of that is being reserved for the all-important second dose that completes the vaccine process. AndFEMA is close to finishing a request for up to 10,000 service membersto help administer vaccines. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is trying to return the state's $2 million stockpile of hydroxychloroquine, which had been touted by some as a treatment for COVID-19.In Peru, things are getting so badthat the country has instituted widespread lockdowns and is racing to secure more ICU beds.In India, a decline in caseshas led to some easing of public activity restrictions.Cases are trending lower in the USas well, but estimates claimanother 80,000 people could dieof the virus in the next few weeks....January has already become the worst month for USCovid-19deathssince the start of the pandemic.As of Tuesday, there have been more than 79,000 coronavirus fatalities, topping the record set in December....Biden, calling the push a wartime effort, said Tuesday the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses of each of the two approvedcoronavirus vaccines. He acknowledged that states in recent weeks have been left guessing how much vaccine they will have from one week to the next....Levar M. Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, has announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus....How many variants of the coronavirus are there? Check this explainer....The Virginia Department of Health reportsthis morning there have been 493,674 cases and 6,308deaths statewide -- up by 80 since Tuesday. Some 21,113 people have been hospitalized. Henry County has had 3,684 cases, with 246 hospitalizations and 73 deaths. Martinsville has had 1,345 cases, with 115 hospitalizations and 36 deaths. Patrick County has had 1,035 cases including 76 hospitalizations and 28 deaths. Franklin County has had 3,271 cases, 104 hospitalizations and 33 deaths. Danville has reported 3,537 cases (64 deaths), and Pittsylvania County has had 4,039 (46 deaths).Johns Hopkins University's real-time mapshowed 100,977,927 cases worldwide and 2,177,418 deaths. In the U.S. there have been 25,599,961 cases and 429,178 deaths because of COVID-19.
(142) updates to this series since Updated 9 hrs ago
Philly Fighting COVID CEO admits taking doses and administering them to friends as City Council demands answer The Philadelphia Inquirer
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) 24 new COVID-19 deaths in South Dakota were reported on Thursday, bringing the state total to 1,763.
The new deaths were 7 women and 17 men in the following age ranges: 30-39 (1); 40-49 (1); 50-59 (1); 60-69 (3); 70-79 (9) and 80+ (9).
Active cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota have dropped below 3,200 on Thursday, according to the latest update from theSouth Dakota Department of Health.
Active cases are at 3,137, down from Wednesday (3,238).
On Thursday, 187 new total coronavirus cases were announced bringing the states total case count to 107,795 up from Wednesday (107,608). Total recovered cases are now at 102,895.
Current hospitalizations are at 161, the same number from Wednesday (161). Total hospitalizations are at 6,242.
Total persons negative is now at 292,275, up from Wednesday (291,602).
There were 860 new persons tested reported on Thursday. Thursdays new person tested positivity rate is 21.7%.
The latest seven-day all test positivity rate reported by the DOH is 9.8%. The DOH calculates that based on the results of the PCR test results but doesnt release total numbers for how many PCR tests are done daily. The latest one-day PCR test positivity rate is 9.1%.
Vaccine tracking is now being reported by the state. As of Thursday, 41,267 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 46,617 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered to 63,248 total persons.
According to the South Dakota Department of Health, 10,497 people have received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, while 14,139 people have completed the Pfizer vaccine series.
WASHINGTON Will coronavirus be the new flu? As new strains of the virus pop up, several drug companies have already started making and adjusting their vaccines or making boosters.
This has led many people to wonder if we will have to get a different vaccine for each strain or get a new vaccine each year.
Will we need a vaccine booster for every new strain of the virus?
We wont know for some time.
Dr. David Dowdy, an Epidemiologist from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. William Schaffner, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Robert Amler, a former CDC Epidemiologist and Dean at New York Medical School.
The answer is, 'yes' and 'no,' Dr. Amler explained.
With COVID, we'll just have to follow what happens, Dr. Schaffner followed up.
It doesn't mean that each new strain is going to be resistant if you will to any vaccine, Dr. Dowdy finished.
As you can see the consensus is: We dont know yet.
But lets breakdown why we dont know. Each year, you get a new flu vaccine because influenza is an unstable virus.
On the other hand, measles, also a virus, is really very stable, Dr. Schaffner compared. So the vaccine we used 40 years ago, works perfectly fine.
I think it's important for people to realize that the mutation rate for the coronavirus is not as high as for the flu, Dr. Dowdy explained.
The coronavirus ranks somewhere in the middle of a stable virus-like measles and the always mutating virus influenza.
Whether or not each strain and each year requires a different vaccine or a booster, is still being studied.
If we see changes, and if we see a loss of efficacy against some of the newer strains, then a newer brand of vaccine or a newer preparation of vaccine may be necessary, Dr. Amler said.
I would anticipate we may need to be updated every few years, but probably not every single year, and certainly not with every single stream, Dr. Dowdy said.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of January 28, 2021, there have been 1,882,860 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 118,562 total cases and 1,983 total deaths.
DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 70-year old female from Jefferson County, a 59-year old female from McDowell County, a 92-year old female from Hancock County, a 66-year old male from Monongalia County, a 70-year old male from Mercer County, a 74-year old male from Hampshire County, a 74-year old female from Ohio County, an 82-year old male from Upshur County, a 74-year old male from Berkeley County, a 73-year old male from Harrison County, a 68-year old male from Raleigh County, a 53-year old female from Marshall County, an 89-year old female from Mercer County, a 91-year old female from Harrison County, a 60-year old male from Hancock County, a 65-year old male from Cabell County, a 66-year old male from Wood County, a 92-year old female from Mercer County, a 57-year old female from Preston County, a 59-year old female from Upshur County, an 84-year old female from Marshall County, a 93-year old female from Hancock County, a 70-year old female from Upshur County, an 83-year old female from Cabell County, a 78-year old male from Harrison County, a 69-year old female from Putnam County, a 78-year old male from Ohio County, a 79-year old male from Ohio County, an 83-year old female from Mason County, and a 72-year old female from Fayette County.
The continued loss of West Virginians weighs heavily on all of us, with the greatest sadness borne by family and friends, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. During this difficult time for our state and nation, we extend our deepest sympathy.
CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (1,094), Berkeley (8,762), Boone (1,411), Braxton (745), Brooke (1,884), Cabell (6,936), Calhoun (209), Clay (342), Doddridge (402), Fayette (2,341), Gilmer (562), Grant (981), Greenbrier (2,205), Hampshire (1,362), Hancock (2,451), Hardy (1,187), Harrison (4,384), Jackson (1,580), Jefferson (3,270), Kanawha (10,920), Lewis (823), Lincoln (1,118), Logan (2,349), Marion (3,255), Marshall (2,740), Mason (1,519), McDowell (1,220), Mercer (3,864), Mineral (2,455), Mingo (1,896), Monongalia (6,944), Monroe (876), Morgan (858), Nicholas (1,036), Ohio (3,334), Pendleton (545), Pleasants (764), Pocahontas (554), Preston (2,392), Putnam (3,778), Raleigh (4,038), Randolph (2,173), Ritchie (553), Roane (460), Summers (659), Taylor (996), Tucker (449), Tyler (563), Upshur (1,462), Wayne (2,318), Webster (245), Wetzel (987), Wirt (325), Wood (6,442), Wyoming (1,544).
Delays may be experienced with the reporting of information from the local health department to DHHR. As case surveillance continues at the local health department level, it may reveal that those tested in a certain county may not be a resident of that county, or even the state as an individual in question may have crossed the state border to be tested.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Sedgwick County says it is about to get 7,000 more doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
In a Thursday afternoon news conference, Sedgwick County Commissioner Pete Meitzner described the supply of vaccine the county is getting as a trickle. But after he said that, Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman announced the new doses coming next week.
Id like to share some good news that weve received from KDHE, he said. Theyve informed us that our health department should begin to receive a regular weekly shipment from the states allocation next week. We anticipate receiving 7,000 Pfizer doses. Its our understanding we can plan on receiving 7,000 weekly doses, weekly, for the foreseeable future.
Dr. Garold Minns, the county health officer, said that the county is focusing on vaccinating healthcare workers and those residents who are 65 and older.
77% of our county residents that have passed away from COVID-19 are over the age of 70, he said.
Because the supply has not been what the county hoped, it is starting with older people in that age group and slowly adding younger people. The current age limit is 80 and older.
Sedgwick County has a website for people in those groups to schedule a vaccination. Click here. Those who do not have computer access can call 316-660-1029. Caregivers for elderly parents can fill out the online form for them.
The county will only schedule appointments for the vaccine doses it has on hand. It does not keep a waiting list. The appointments are only for Sedgwick County residents.
Also, the county will hold a drive-thru vaccination clinic Monday at the Wichita Transit System, 777 E. Waterman, for those who may have mobility issues. The drive-thru clinic is by appointment only.
Sedgwick County said the hospitals and long-term care facilities have been getting their vaccine doses directly from the federal government and those numbers are not included in the county totals.
Minns also discussed the importance of getting the second dose of the vaccine.
The second dose in some sense is the most important as receiving a second dose boosts your immunity up to 95 to 98% effectiveness, he said.
He also stressed that it is important to continue to wear a mask after getting vaccinated to protect people who have not been vaccinated.
The Sedgwick County Health Department updated its COVID-19 dashboard Thursday afternoon to show that there have been 13 more deaths linked to the virus. It brings the countys death toll to 375.
But the number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus is not going up as quickly as it was in November and December.
The countys positivity rate is down to 7.6% after a high of 22.4% in November.
County list updated: Jan 27, 2021Sources:Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentNebraska Department of Health and Human ServicesOklahoma State Department of Health
by: Rachel Estrada, KIAH, Nexstar Media Wire
HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK MARCH 18: An image of the sign for a Walgreens as photographed on March 18, 2020 in Hicksville, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
HOUSTON (NEXSTAR/KIAH) You may have seen signs on Walgreens doors indicating its pharmacies dont yet have the COVID-19 vaccine available. But get ready, because it could be soon.
The COVID-19 vaccine is on the way, Walgreens said in a statement posted on its website.
However, you wont be able to just walk in and receive it. There will be a process in place for you to get your vaccine injection.
Walgreens, with more than 9,000 pharmacies, is offering in-store coronavirus vaccinations at some locations, but you have to set up an account online and be pre-screened.
The company said its following state and local eligibility requirements, which vary by state.
Walgreens is following directives for Phase 1 distribution, saying as of Friday, it had administered over 1 million vaccinations in long-term care facilities and to other vulnerable populations.
Walgreens is working closely with state governments to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines as states advance their Phase 1A and 1B distribution and administration plans for additional vulnerable populations, the company said. Prioritized populations vary based on state guidelines and may include healthcare workers, people ages 65 and older, and individuals with pre-existing conditions.
In a recent press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said only a fraction of vaccines set aside for long-term care facilities in the state has actually been used.
There are 412,188 of those doses for long-term care and nursing home residents that either have not yet been reported or are waiting to be given, he said.
Even so, Walgreens said it expects vaccines to be available to the general public in spring 2021, depending on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state and local governments.
Walgreens says people who get vaccinated still need to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash their hands. The company also said you cannot get the COVID-19 from the vaccine.
For more on commonly asked questions, watch Walgreens COVID-19 information video.
California's first surgeon general, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, is sworn in by Gov. Gavin Newsom in February 2019. A leading voice on health care equity, she's helping shape the state's vaccination makeover following its rocky start. CA Governors Office. hide caption
California's first surgeon general, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, is sworn in by Gov. Gavin Newsom in February 2019. A leading voice on health care equity, she's helping shape the state's vaccination makeover following its rocky start.
California's muddled county-based coronavirus vaccine distribution system has stoked confusion, frustration and angst for citizens across America's most populous state.
California, the deadly epicenter of the nation's winter coronavirus surge, has consistently ranked in the very bottom tier of states in vaccinations administered per capita. State officials say missing vaccination data and collection snafus are partly to blame. But in the face of ongoing criticism that high-tech California can't seem to efficiently administer the vaccine at scale, state leaders have announced a major do-over.
The in-progress revamp includes the launch of a statewide vaccine portal next month and bringing in a third-party administrator to help fix a jumbled system that basically has each of the state's 58 counties running its own vaccine program. State public health leaders say the moves, which follow the lifting of regional stay-at-home orders, will centralize delivery and streamline appointments while bolstering data collection, equity and accountability.
But Californians have heard these pledges before. Skeptics say Gov. Gavin Newsom is once again over-promising as he faces criticism, lawsuits and a nascent, yet growing, recall movement.
NPR's Eric Westervelt spoke with the woman helping to lead the revamp effort, California's Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, about vaccine equity, transparency, and the distribution makeover underway. Dr. Burke Harris took the helm of the newly created office less than a year before the pandemic struck.
Eric Westervelt: The vaccine distribution in California has not gone perfectly, to say the least. What have you learned from the rollout of this phase 1A to health care workers and nursing home residents? And how have those lessons changed your vaccine planning going forward?
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris: Well, we've learned a tremendous amount, as you can imagine. Ramping up this type of vaccine distribution process, particularly in a state as large and diverse as California, is certainly a challenge. And you're absolutely right. We started off, it was a bit rocky, and the governor gave us a challenge, what we call the 10-day vaccine challenge. And we were able in 10 days to triple the number of folks that we had vaccinated in the previous 10 days. So we did a rapid ramp-up.
And we recognize that it's really important for us to have, you know, a simple and straightforward strategy, to have a very clear statewide strategy. We do a lot with our our counties, which I think is a strength in California. But in this case, it was a challenge for administering the vaccine as quickly as we possibly could. And we also want to be clear with the public about a simple, straightforward way for them to understand when it's their turn and how they can get vaccinated. And these are all things that we are now really doubling down on improving.
Now a third-party administrator will allocate and distribute vaccines directly to providers to maximize distribution efficiency. Do I have that right? Who is this third-party administrator and what role will they play? How will they work with counties?
Yeah, so that's exactly right: A third-party administrator will allocate vaccines directly to providers. And to your question of who is the third-party administrator, that is currently being negotiated. So unfortunately, I don't have a name for you on that. But what I can tell you is that the goal is to really simplify and streamline, you know, really matching capacity and capability with vaccine supply so that we can most efficiently vaccinate as many Californians as possible.
But what kind of administrator are you looking at, what kind of skillset?
Certainly we're looking for an entity that has very, very strong logistics and tracking and data tracking capacity.
So basically UPS meets Google?
(Laughs) You won't get me to say more than that, unfortunately.
[Late Wednesday after this interview a state official confirmed that a contract is pending with Blue Shield of California, the large nonprofit insurer. Contractual details and an implementation timeline are still being worked out]
But all of these things are still a work in progress: hiring a third-party administrator; getting the sign-up website up and running statewide and getting better data to operationalize equity and distribution. And it's all still contingent on getting more vaccine doses from the federal government. What do you say to Californians who are frustrated and say, "You know, this is all sounds good, but it's still all aspirational?" Are we going to be waiting months before we actually get the shot in the arm?
I want to acknowledge very plainly: There is a constraint on supply of vaccine, so there are many people who will have to wait until they get a shot in the arm. We recognize there were some challenges, there were some bumps. That said, we are working around-the-clock to make sure that the only constraint is the supply. And when [the federal government] is able to ramp up supply, we're able to get those shots in arms.
The state announced it hopes to simplify eligibility and that future groups will become eligible for the vaccine based on age, and that this will allow the state to scale capacity while ensuring equity. Could you clarify the balance on age and equity? So will an older Latino farm worker in Imperial County get precedence over, say, an elderly person in Berkeley?
We are moving to an age-based system because what the data tells [sic] us is that age is, by far, the strongest predictor of risk of hospitalization and death. We had started out with a system based on our occupational sectors. We started with our health care workers. We also identified that individuals who were in senior residential care facilities were at dramatically disproportionate risk.
And we had included our 65-plus ages in tier one of phase 1B, and we also had occupational sectors based on occupational exposure. That included our agricultural workers, it included our educators, child care workers. Now, when that tier is completed, California will move to a straight age-based system. And as we look at an age based system, we are holding equity at the center of that.
And there are a couple of levers that we can pull to operationalize equity. That includes doing the outreach, working with community-based organization and partners to really leverage and mobilize trusted messengers within the community to make sure that we are focusing some on vulnerable communities, such as those who are lower income, those who are facing occupational exposure.
In terms of your question, a farm worker versus someone in Berkeley, what we do in that situation, I wouldn't call it prioritization, but if the data is [sic] telling us that in our Central Valley, where we have a high density of farm workers, we have a very high density of cases, we might allocate more doses to those places where we are seeing a high numbers of cases.
So you will be able to put the vaccine fire hose maybe more focused on where you're seeing the greatest need?
That's right, that's exactly part of the intent of what we're trying to do.
When do you think the state will be able to release better and more granular data about vaccine distribution by county, by age, by race and the share of health care workers who've been vaccinated so far? Many other states, as you know, are doing this. California is not. This is key to the sort of equity, transparency issues the governor talks about a lot. But, you know, talk is one thing, let's see the data.
Well, that's part of the reason for transitioning to a third-party administrator, right, is to have that level of transparency, data collection, accountability. Those are exactly the challenges that we will be solving with this approach.
The Biden administration has said there's this need to balance speedy vaccine distribution and delivery with equity. Why are speed and equity, necessarily, opposing forces? What is the right balance, in your view? And how, specifically, in California do you hope to achieve that balance?
I want to clarify that myth: I don't think that speed and equity are opposing forces. But I think that if we think only about speed and we don't do it thoughtfully, we can undermine equity. But speed and equity absolutely can be achieved at the same time.
You can achieve equity through means of allocation, through means of outreach, identifying what are the barriers and supporting those communities here in California. We've been looking at using a tool called the Healthy Places Index, which helps to identify which communities are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. It looks at things like transportation, housing, access to health care, access to services. And no surprise, the areas in the lowest quartile, the neighborhoods that have the lowest availability of these community resources that help to ensure health, they are seeing the highest rates of COVID-19. And not only the highest rates, but also the highest hospitalizations and death rates. And so when we talk about equity, we are talking about using data to drive a smart way for allocating our supports to communities to prevent the pandemic from boiling over in the areas that are most vulnerable.
The CDC vaccine tracker shows doses distributed and doses administered. It's basically a measure for speed. What kind of specific metrics do we need to measure equity in California, in your view?
I'm looking at things like social vulnerability, looking at which communities are most likely to be have occupational exposures, more likely to contract COVID-19 and more likely to have poorer outcomes. Do they have access to health care or are we looking at situations where, when folks begin to feel symptomatic, they don't have a regular health care provider that they can go to. And it takes longer to identify a case of COVID-19 and there's increased risk of spread as a result. So these are some of the data points that we are looking at here in California to make sure that we can be as aggressive and effective as possible at curbing this pandemic by targeting the places where we see the spread is the fastest.
So in California, one example is among our farm worker community. We see very high rates of spread, disproportionate contraction of COVID-19, as well as hospitalization and death among our Latino population, which is the vast majority of farm workers in California.
Thank you for your time. I know Californians are wishing you and all your colleagues Godspeed on this important work.
Thank you. If you know a public health official right now, maybe send them some flowers (laughs) because we are all working triple overtime to make sure that we have a really solid vaccine allocation framework for the state of California and that our only limitation is supply.
The COVID-19 vaccination process is well underway in Florida.Residents of long-term care facilities, health care workers and people 65 and older are all eligible.Officials are now releasing information on how people can register to receive the vaccine:Publix Stores:Covid-19 vaccines are available at 67 Publix pharmacies in Palm Beach County, seven in Martin County, 11 in St. Lucie County and eight in Indian River County. The vaccine is not currently available at Publix stores in Okeechobee County. All local appointments were booked within one hour Wednesday.The next appointment window will open on Friday at 6 a.m. More information can be found here. Palm Beach County:No longer taking appointments via email. County working to schedule more than 200,000 current appointment requests.Future appointments will be made available directly through vaccination sites, and details for these registration systems will be provided here at a later date.Town of Palm Beach:Residents of the Town of Palm Beach can register for vaccine by clicking here.Residents can be added to the Town of Palm Beach vaccine waitlist by clicking here. Martin County:The Martin County Department of Health is launching an online registration process for drive-thru vaccination clinics. Registration will open Wednesday, January 20 at 11am. You can find more information here. St. Lucie County:Vaccine is now being offered to St. Lucie County residents 65 years of age and older by appointment only. The appointments are available Monday January 25 through Wednesday, January 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fenn Center.Those who have already signed up on the Health Department's waitlist will have priority registration for this event and will be contacted through Eventbrite to sign up. Officials said they have more than 30,000 appointments on the waitlist and expect all appointments for this event to be taken. To be notified for future vaccine appointments, register for the county's waitlist by clicking here. If you'd like to schedule an appointment by phone, you can call 772-446-8480.The county urges residents to contact their medical providers, including hospitals and pharmacies, as those agencies are able to acquire vaccines directly from the manufacturers. The county also urges residents to register with Alert St. Lucie to be notified when vaccines are available. Click here to sign up. Indian River County: Two vaccination clinics will be held Wednesday, January 27 and Thursday, January 28 by appointment only for residents 65 and older. The online reservation to receive the COVID-19 vaccination through Indian River County will open Monday, January 25 at 9:30 a.m. To schedule an appointment, click here. The form will not be active until registration opens. When new appointments become available, a phone line will be available for residents needing technical assistance with scheduling. Call 772-226-4000 for assistance in submitting an appointment reservation or for general information. The hotline will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Individuals with scheduled appointments must bring a form of identification and must wear a mask. Those with appointments can save time by bringing a completed COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form, which can be found here. Walk-up appointments are not accepted at this time. County officials recommend opting in to ALERT Indian River, Indian River County's alerting system by clicking here for updates and announcements for expansion of vaccination criteria and notifications for additional vaccination clinics and appointments. This is not an appointment system or waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine. Second Doses in Indian River County:The Indian River County Health Department will begin issuing second doses for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines beginning the week of February 2. Individuals who received their first dose from the Indian River County Fairgrounds will be notified with an automated call and an appointment time within a few days of their second dose.If you have any questions, you can call 772-226-4000. Okeechobee County:All of the Okeechobee County Health Departments' appointments for the week are booked. The county will advise when more appointments are available depending on vaccine arrival. Cleveland Clinic Patients:COVID-19 appointment scheduling is currently suspended. State-Run Vaccination Sites:Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this week that Hard Rock Stadium in Miami-Dade County will be a vaccination site.A limited number of vaccine appointments for seniors 65 and older will be available starting Thursday, January 7 at 2 p.m. More information on registration can be found here. We will update this article with new information as its made available.
The COVID-19 vaccination process is well underway in Florida.
Residents of long-term care facilities, health care workers and people 65 and older are all eligible.
Officials are now releasing information on how people can register to receive the vaccine:
Publix Stores:
Covid-19 vaccines are available at 67 Publix pharmacies in Palm Beach County, seven in Martin County, 11 in St. Lucie County and eight in Indian River County. The vaccine is not currently available at Publix stores in Okeechobee County.
All local appointments were booked within one hour Wednesday.
The next appointment window will open on Friday at 6 a.m. More information can be found here.
Palm Beach County:
No longer taking appointments via email. County working to schedule more than 200,000 current appointment requests.
Future appointments will be made available directly through vaccination sites, and details for these registration systems will be provided here at a later date.
Town of Palm Beach:
Residents of the Town of Palm Beach can register for vaccine by clicking here.
Residents can be added to the Town of Palm Beach vaccine waitlist by clicking here.
Martin County:
The Martin County Department of Health is launching an online registration process for drive-thru vaccination clinics. Registration will open Wednesday, January 20 at 11am. You can find more information here.
St. Lucie County:
Vaccine is now being offered to St. Lucie County residents 65 years of age and older by appointment only. The appointments are available Monday January 25 through Wednesday, January 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fenn Center.
Those who have already signed up on the Health Department's waitlist will have priority registration for this event and will be contacted through Eventbrite to sign up. Officials said they have more than 30,000 appointments on the waitlist and expect all appointments for this event to be taken.
To be notified for future vaccine appointments, register for the county's waitlist by clicking here.
If you'd like to schedule an appointment by phone, you can call 772-446-8480.
The county urges residents to contact their medical providers, including hospitals and pharmacies, as those agencies are able to acquire vaccines directly from the manufacturers.
The county also urges residents to register with Alert St. Lucie to be notified when vaccines are available. Click here to sign up.
Indian River County:
Two vaccination clinics will be held Wednesday, January 27 and Thursday, January 28 by appointment only for residents 65 and older.
The online reservation to receive the COVID-19 vaccination through Indian River County will open Monday, January 25 at 9:30 a.m. To schedule an appointment, click here. The form will not be active until registration opens.
When new appointments become available, a phone line will be available for residents needing technical assistance with scheduling. Call 772-226-4000 for assistance in submitting an appointment reservation or for general information. The hotline will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Individuals with scheduled appointments must bring a form of identification and must wear a mask. Those with appointments can save time by bringing a completed COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form, which can be found here.
Walk-up appointments are not accepted at this time.
County officials recommend opting in to ALERT Indian River, Indian River County's alerting system by clicking here for updates and announcements for expansion of vaccination criteria and notifications for additional vaccination clinics and appointments. This is not an appointment system or waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Second Doses in Indian River County:
The Indian River County Health Department will begin issuing second doses for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines beginning the week of February 2. Individuals who received their first dose from the Indian River County Fairgrounds will be notified with an automated call and an appointment time within a few days of their second dose.
If you have any questions, you can call 772-226-4000.
Okeechobee County:
All of the Okeechobee County Health Departments' appointments for the week are booked. The county will advise when more appointments are available depending on vaccine arrival.
Cleveland Clinic Patients:
COVID-19 appointment scheduling is currently suspended.
State-Run Vaccination Sites:
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this week that Hard Rock Stadium in Miami-Dade County will be a vaccination site.
A limited number of vaccine appointments for seniors 65 and older will be available starting Thursday, January 7 at 2 p.m. More information on registration can be found here.
We will update this article with new information as its made available.
AMERICAN NOVAVAX VACCINE IS 89.3% EFFECTIVE
US firm Novavax has tonight unveiled their jab, which is effective in 89.3 per cent of cases, as shown in a UK trial. Its approval is likely to follow next month.
The UK has already secured 60 million doses of the vaccine, which will be manufactured in Stockton-on-Tees for use this summer.
Stanley Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer at Novavax said : "This is the first vaccine to demonstrate not only high clinical efficacy against Covid-19 but also significant clinical efficacy against both the rapidly emerging UK and South Africa variants.
It has the potential to play an important role in solving this global public health crisis."
Clive Dix, Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said:These are spectacular results, and we are very pleased to have helped Novavax with the development of this vaccine.The efficacy shown against the emerging variants is also extremely encouraging.
"This is an incredible achievement that will ensure we can protect individuals in the UK and the rest of the world from this virus.
