42% of all seniors in Duval County have been administered at least one shot of the vaccine

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of yesterday, Duval County has administered at least one shot of the vaccine to 42% of seniors, 65 and older; the first vaccine was administered to the public on Dec. 30, 2020.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Duval County is doing well.

According to DeSantis, “42% of all seniors have gotten at least one shot in Duval. That’s better than the state average.”

“You have good, strong hospitals and a good health system. But I think this will supplement those efforts and really, really be good for senior citizens,” he added.

QUICK LINKS: How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in the Jacksonville area

DeSantis said the county will move on with the next phase of vaccine distribution when they’re at a good place vaccinating seniors.

At the current vaccination rate, it would take an additional month and a half to get the 65 and up population in Duval County over 80% for at least their first shot.

“I think the kids should get it, and I think teachers should be able to get it, so we can get the kids back in school,” Tammy Deitchman said.

Deitchman and her mother received their second dose today at Regency Mall. They said once more vaccines arrive, officials need to make it easier for people to get them.

“The problem is the people who can’t get online,” Deitchman said. “If it wasn’t for me, my mother could not get this vaccine because she doesn’t have a computer.”

Coronavirus vaccine: County-by-county plan for Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia

She told Action News Jax it’s taken her and her mother 21 days exactly to go from the first dose to the second one but knows it isn’t that easy for everybody.

“Some people can’t sit on the phone for four hours or something,” Deitchman said. “I didn’t have to. I left a message, left my number, and they called me right back. So I had a very good experience. A lot of people I know have not.”

Cox Media Group