Gov. DeSantis promotes Covid-19 vaccines at Crystal River mobile vaccine clinic

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conferance, as part of a statewide tour to promote Covid-19 vaccines in Florida, on Thursday morning, March 4, at the Crystal Square shopping center, located at 579 SE U.S. Hwy. 19 in Crystal River, where a 3-day mobile Covid-19 vaccination clinic for the Pfizer vaccine had been set up, with approximately 3,300 vaccines anticipated to be administered, according to DeSantis.

DeSantis said that Citrus County is lagging behind other counties, with vaccinations for seniors ranging in the "lower fourties" compared to an average of 54% statewide, and his goal for Citrus County is to get the vaccination rate, "In the fifty percent range, as well." He said that the vaccination rate is 80% in St. John's County, and he expects the rate can go as high as 60%-75% in Citrus County, and he's worked with Senator Wilton Simpson-R, Florida's 10th District (Citrus, Hernando and a portion of Pasco counties), "To get Citrus in that same range."

He said the State of Florida has received 175,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, which will be administered within the next two weeks. The Johnson and Johnson Covie-19 vaccine requires only one injection, whereas the other two available vaccines require a second dose; the Moderna vaccine requires a second dose within 28 days, while the Pfizer vaccine requires a second dose within 21 days.

DeSantis said that vaccines will become available to citizens below the age of 65 in Florida, within the next 30 days.

DeSantis recalled that Citrus County was among four counties selected for the Publix pharmacy's pilot Covid-19 vaccine program, and the Covid-19 vaccine is currently available within Citrus County at four Publix pharmacies, two Winn-Dixie, and three Walmart pharmacies, and will also be available at two Walgreens pharmacies, as of Friday, March 5. The Walgreens locations are 310 NE U. S. Hay. 19 in Crystal River, and 104 S. Apopka. Ave. in Inverness. DeSantis said these locations will have 80 vaccines available on weekdays and 60 on Saturdays and Sundays.

To register for the vaccines, please visit the following websites:
Walmart.com/cp/1228302
Publix.com/covid-vaccine
WinnDixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine
Walgreens.com - You must first sign up for a pharmacy account.
MyVaccine.fl.gov (Florida Department of Health - Citrus County) - or call 866-201-0442 or TTY 833-476-1036.

Gov. DeSantis briefly mentioned four mass vaccination sites that opened, March 3, in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami that should be able to provide 2,000 vaccines daily at each site, and two mobile sites that will provide 500 vaccines daily. He emphasized that 95% of Covid-related fatalities are of people ages fifty and older. "It's the age, not the income, that determines the risk," he said. "We need to get the shots in the arms of as many seniors as we can."