Vaccine

The governor also said the state could soon be seeing as many as 42,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses next week, and possibly more in the two weeks after that.

State health officials reported 4,599 new COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths, Wednesday for a total of more than 1.9 million infections and 33,120 deaths since the start of the pandemic. So far more than 4.4 million people in Florida have received a vaccine dose, including nearly 2.5 million people who have completed the vaccine series.Governor Ron DeSantis wants to use some of the money coming to Florida through the federal COVID-19 relief bill to provide $1,000 bonuses to firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders. He also wants $260 million to go to supporting Florida’s struggling seaports and $50 million to be allocated to the state’s tourism marketing arm Visit Florida to help revitalize the tourism industry.The Florida Senate is set to vote today on a bill protecting businesses and healthcare providers from pandemic-related litigation. A bill cracking down on COVID-19 vaccine-related fraud passed its first Senate committee this week.New CDC guidelines recommend that nursing home residents be allowed to see visitors in person.Two pediatricians in Boca Raton have published a study after a vaccinated woman with no history of COVID-19 gave birth to a baby with COVID-19 antibodies.A new report from a national COVID-19 commission reports a dramatic rise in domestic violence amid the pandemic.

State Health officials reported 2,826 new COVID-19 cases and 93 deaths on Monday. Meanwhile more than 4.2 million people in Florida have been vaccinated, including more than 1.88 people who have received a first dose, more than 2.2 million who have completed the series with two doses and more than 90,000 people who have received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis expanded vaccine eligibility to adults 60 and older and he expressed confidence that Florida will open vaccine eligibility to all adults by President Joe Biden’s deadline of May 1.

AP and the Marshall Project speak with correctional officers and union leaders nationwide, as well as health experts working inside prisons, to understand the decision-making despite the higher risk.

There's confusion and new frustration for Floridians as they try to get vaccinated for COVID-19, because the rules, critieria, and eligibility seem to change daily.

State health officials reported 4,853 new COVID-19 cases and 59 deaths, Wednesday. So far more than 1.75 million people in Florida have received a first vaccine dose and more than two million people have completed the series with two doses. More than 25,000 people have received the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.After vaccine eligibility in Florida expands to include people 60 and older on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’ll open up eligibility to people 55 and older soon after before eventually doing away with age restrictions altogether.An additional 76 CVS Pharmacy locations in Florida will begin offering vaccine appointments this week including stores in Charlotte, Collier and Lee Counties here in Southwest Florida, and at locations in 21 other counties.Despite pushback from some parents, Collier County School District officials say its mask policy will likely remain in place at least through the end of the current school year.

Primarily restricting vaccine access to older Floridians while the virus continues to spread puts essential workers at risk and gives variants a chance to gain a foothold in the community, says infectious disease expert Dr. Glenn Morris.

He cites the increased supply of vaccines, and says older residents will continue to be prioritized.

State health officials reported 3,312 COVID-19 cases, Monday and 81 deaths. Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida’s vaccine eligibility will be expanded to any one 60 and older on March 15. Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried is criticizing DeSantis’ vaccine rollout, saying it should be easier for medically vulnerable people to prove they’re eligible. DeSantis is criticizing the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package, saying it penalizes states like Florida where officials reopened the economy relatively quickly. DeSantis is calling on the federal government to revise its distribution model, arguing that money should be allocated on a per-capita basis. Elected officials and advocates in Palm Beach County say the state should prioritize vaccines for farmworkers.

Starting next week, people ages 60 and older will be able to get shots. The governor said the state will continue to use five-year age brackets to expand eligibility moving forward.