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.
The dedicated website for the Florida Department of Health, including information about the numbers of cases, can be found here.
The dedicated website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found here.
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QUICK UPDATES
Kids 12 And Older Can Schedule A COVID Vaccine Appointment Through Nicklaus Children
Updated Thursday at 6:00 a.m.
Kids as young as 12 can now pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
The South Miami-area hospital is ready to start offering vaccinations now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending using Pfizer’s two-dose vaccine in kids ages 12 to 15. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky’s recommendation comes hours after a CDC advisory committee endorsed the change on Wednesday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the vaccine for emergency use in that age group Monday, saying it was safe and effective. Previously, Pfizer’s vaccine could only be given to people 16 and older.
— By Michelle Marchante / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Miami-Dade Schools To Vaccinate Employees, Students 12 And Up At These Three Schools
Updated Thursday at 5:50 a.m.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools employees and students ages 12 and up, including charter school students, can be vaccinated for free at three school sites beginning Thursday.
The school district and Miami-Dade County struck a deal to begin vaccinations at North Miami Senior High, 1247 NE 167th St.; Miami Jackson Senior High, 1751 NW 36th St.; and Miami Sunset Senior High, 13125 SW 72nd St., from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday. Appointments are required and can be made here.
All locations will offer the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. Those under the age of 18 receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and complete the COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form, found here.
— By Colleen Wright / The Miami Herald
Read more from our news partner at The Miami Herald.
Florida Can’t Force Cruises To Restart During Pandemic, Feds Argue In Court
Updated Thursday at 5:43 a.m.
The U.S. government says the state of Florida has no legal right to force the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to reopen the cruise line business at the nation’s seaports.
Lawyers representing the state and federal government squared off before U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday in Tampa on Wednesday after Florida sued the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services, claiming an agency program for cruise lines to resume sailings is “unlawful,” taking too long and creating widespread economic harm.
After a daylong hearing, the judge did not issue a ruling.
— By David Lyons / The South Florida Sun Sentinel
Read more from our news partner at The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
