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Coronavirus: Winter storm causes delay in COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The winter storm across most of the country has delayed COVID-19 vaccine shipments.

It affects many states, including Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

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Action News Jax reported earlier that the state was set to receive 200,000 doses this week.

The governor said the delay is not seriously disruptive to Florida, and that the state already has received a majority of those doses.

About 9,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected Thursday.

The Moderna vaccine is expected Thursday or Friday.

“Just have patience. There’s nothing we can do with the weather in other states,” DeSantis said.

“If you have an appointment, like at a Publix on Thursday and they have to delay you, that’s why.”

According to DeSantis, 1.8 million Florida seniors already have received about 75 percent of the vaccine delivered.

In the meantime, DeSantis said the state is doing everything it can to get more vaccines to more people.

“I’ve (instructed) the division of emergency management to work with FEMA...We want more doses, however you’re going to do it. The easiest thing is to send us more because we have the infrastructure,” he said.

The governor added that next week Florida can expect 41,000 additional doses that will go to counties the state decides need it the most.

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DeSantis said the selections have yet to be made.

Right now, Publix’s COVID-19 vaccine sign-up page says shipments are delayed and does not list when new appointments will be available.

Action News Jax will update this story online and on air when that information becomes available.