Palm Beach County leaders are trying to ease concerns as residents prepare themselves for COVID-19 vaccines. But local commissioners worry the vaccines aren’t arriving soon enough in the county, which is one of the hardest-hit areas.
Frontline workers at five Florida hospitals, including medical centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, will receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines — Palm Beach County was left off the initial list.
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Speaking on WPTV Channel 5, Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said she wants local first responders to be included in the first round.
"We need a clear, written plan out of the governor's office on exactly how this is going to roll out so we can have all of our infrastructure here ready to roll to begin vaccinating residents in Palm Beach County," McKinlay said. "And to date, we do not have that."
Commissioner Mack Bernard said he’s disappointed. He said he doesn’t know how big the first or second batch will be.
"After the first batch, which is within the first week, then, within the second to third week, there will be a batch that will be distributed to Palm Beach County," Bernard said.
Bernard said state representatives and senators told him that the general population won’t receive a vaccine until sometime next summer.
