Lake County’s hospitals have started receiving COVID-19 vaccines to immunize their healthcare workers.
Additionally, the Florida Department of Health in Lake County is expecting to receive an initial shipment of immunizations sometime in the next few days. Health department medical providers plan to visit the facilities that are not covered by the Walgreens and CVS immunization rollout so that residents and staff can be immunized as quickly as possible.
In an Executive Order issued Dec. 23, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis directed that the priority population for this initial phase shall be long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 and older, and healthcare personnel with direct patient contact.
For the foreseeable future, Lake County will receive an unspecified amount of vaccines to immunize the priority groups as identified by the governor. The federal government’s goal has been to get vaccines to the general public through commercial providers (pharmacies and physicians) as soon as they become available.
Lake County Office of Emergency Management has worked closely with the Florida Department of Health in Lake County to prepare for the expected immunization doses, including preparing storage infrastructure by purchasing an ultra-cold freezer.
Once more information from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health is received, Lake County will inform the public. To sign up for the latest emergency notifications regarding COVID-19, text COVIDUPDATE to 888777 or visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/COVID-19.
