FDA approves emergency authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday

JACKSONVILLE. Fla. — Florida will be getting roughly 180,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

UF Health Jacksonville is the only hospital in Northeast Florida getting a portion of this first shipment.

“I am excited that Jacksonville is getting shipments of this vaccine coming up next week,” explains Dr. Mohammad Reza, a local infectious disease specialist.

Dr. Reza could be one of the first to receive the vaccine.

But when you break down the number of doses we’re getting, there won’t be enough to vaccinate all health care workers.

Nearly 100,000 doses are going to vaccinate health care workers. If divided evenly, that would mean UF Health gets about 20,000.

UF Health Jacksonville tells Action News Jax, ”Anything that comes to the hospital is for the hospital for now.”

Dr. Reza explains, “we know that that first dose of whatever number of allotment that we do get for Jacksonville, it’s not going to be enough.”

The remaining 80,000 doses will be sent to CVS, Walgreens and the state’s Department of Health to vaccinate seniors at long-term care facilities in Florida.

In Duval County, there are 154 facilities.

Since two doses are required, Dr. Reza says there’s simply not enough doses yet to vaccinate even our most vulnerable populations. That will most likely take weeks.

“Believe me, I am so excited about this vaccine for America Florida world for America for a world but it’s not going to help us today or tomorrow or the rest of this month.”

Cox Media Group