Coral Gables Senior Residents Advised To Call Their Doctors To Learn About Coronavirus Vaccine

From the City of Coral Gables:

January 1, 2021

The City of Coral Gables is working diligently to ensure our residents remain informed on the current COVID-19 vaccination evolvements. On Dec. 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-315 directing all providers across the state of Florida to administer any COVID-19 vaccines to long term care facilities, persons over the age of 65, and health care personnel with direct patient contact. As doses of the vaccine are distributed across the state, hospitals and health care facilities are proactively contacting their eligible patients to inform them of the availability of the vaccine. In a joint press conference between Miami-Dade County and Jackson Health System on Dec. 30, 2020, it was announced that beginning the week of Jan. 4, 2021, Jackson Health System will begin taking appointments by phone for persons over the age of 65. In the coming weeks, this process will also be supported by an online appointment platform. These appointments will be taking place in all Jackson locations. Mt. Sinai Medical Center located in Miami Beach, has also began taking appointments by phone to vaccinate those over the age of 75; if interested please call (305)-674-2312.

For the most recent information from the county, click here. At this time, the state has not implemented the use of pharmacies for general vaccine distribution but has stated that they will in the future. As of Dec. 31, 2020, pharmacies are working with long-term care facilities and nursing homes as these residents cannot safely go out and obtain the vaccine themselves. As additional shipments of the vaccine are received, local hospitals are individually planning their methods of distribution.

The City of Coral Gables strongly advises that residents over the age of 65 contact their primary care provider in order to learn if the vaccine is recommended and to receive further direction as to where they can be vaccinated. As new information emerges, the City will continue to update its residents.

This press release was produced by the City of Coral Gables. The views expressed here are the author’s own.