WLRN staff continues to add updates on testing and vaccination sites, executive orders and messages from government officials, and the latest news on COVID-19. You can find information on free food and food distributions here.
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QUICK UPDATES
Broward Health Follows Jackson, To End First-Dose Vaccinations
Updated Thursday, 3:00 p.m.
The last day for COVID-19 vaccinations via Broward Health will be Friday, April 23. People will still be able to get their second-dose shots as scheduled. This announcement comes after Jackson Health System also scheduled the end of its own inoculation program this month.
Broward Health wrote by email that the decision is due to low demand in vaccines and the availability of vaccinations throughout South Florida. "We will continue to vaccinate scheduled individuals over the coming weeks and play a role in future vaccinations and COVID-19 care as needed," wrote Jennifer Smith, associate vice president of corporate communications, in an email.
You can find a list of sites run by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County here. Appointments are not required.
Jackson Health System Announces Upcoming End Of First-Dose Vaccinations
Updated Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.
After roughly five months of vaccinations, Jackson Health System announced Wednesday, April 21, that it will stop providing first-dose vaccines to all who qualify, with the last day set to be April 30. Anyone who got their first shot at Jackson is able to get the second dose there, with appointments continuing through May 21 for the booster shots at the three vaccine locations: Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center, Jackson South Medical Center, and North Dade Health Center.
The hospital system wrote in a news release that it has vaccinated more than 167,000 people, and has administered 301,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses.
"Thankfully, coordination among federal, state, local, and private stakeholders has dramatically expanded access across Miami-Dade. As a result, we have seen a decrease in demand,” wrote Carlos A. Migoya, CEO of Jackson Health System in a press release.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Miami-Dade County, Broward County and the Health Foundation of South Florida announced a new multilingual vaccination campaign to encourage people in the region to get vaccinated. It includes a website with answers to common questions about vaccine safety. It will aim to build confidence using billboards, radio, social media and other means.
— By Verónica Zaragovia / WLRN
Palm Beach County To Close Three Mass Vaccination Sites
Updated Wednesday at 5:20 a.m.
Palm Beach County will be shutting the door on its three mass vaccination sites as interest for the vaccine has rapidly waned among young people.
Darcy Davis, CEO of the Palm Beach County Healthcare District, told county commissioners on Tuesday the three sites will be closed by the end of May. The county will reallocate its resources toward its mobile vaccination sites in order to directly target people in the community.
The three county-run sites are the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, South County Civic Center in Delray Beach and Burns Road Community Center in Palm Beach Gardens.
— By Wells Dusenbury / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
