JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis was in Mandarin Tuesday at River Garden Senior Services where he announced that by the end of January, all of Florida’s 4,000 long term care facilities will have been offered the COVID-19 vaccine.
Distribution of the vaccine began with the Walgreens partnership back in December.
The CVS partnership was slightly delayed. On January 11, CVS said it began administering the vaccine in 1,583 assisted living facilities in Florida.
There’s 498 facilities still scheduled through the next seven days and then the first dose will be complete in all Florida facilities partnered with CVS.
According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, 97% of the state’s nursing homes are currently vaccinated and about 60% of assisted living facilities have received the vaccine.
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River Garden completed both doses of the vaccine this week with 97% of its residents vaccinated.
Visitation was kept outside, but as of Sunday, visitors can now come inside.
“We were sitting as you and I are sitting out here now,” Janice Hayflick said. “Not hugging. Just communicating. Things will be much better now.”
[ COVID-19: Assisted living facilities start vaccinations months behind schedule ]
Governor DeSantis said he activated state help to assist CVS and Walgreens with distribution at the beginning of the month.
“This really is the way to get these residents back to normal. This allows them to do all the things they used to,” he said at his press conference.