Race To Vaccinate Picks Up Speed In Miami-Dade, New Temporary Site Opens In Hialeah
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The COVID-19 vaccination site at Miami Dade College North Campus continues to be very popular with those seeking a shot.
On Tuesday, more than 3,100 first doses were given and nearly 2,400-second doses were administered.
Since March 2nd, the FEMA-supported, state-run site along with two satellite sites have delivered more than 116,000 vaccinations.
For those seeking the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, on Wednesday there are five mobile sites delivering it, including locations at 8500 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach and Homestead Air Reserve Park at 7401 SW New York Avenue in Homestead. Each site has 400 doses which will be given out until supplies run out.
In Hialeah, a new temporary vaccination site opened at Babcock Park. Hialeah residents don't need an appointment and the site will only be open until Saturday.
"It's a great day today, very grateful to everybody back here," said Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez.
There is a permanent vaccination site in Hialeah at Bucky Dent Park on W 60th Street.
The mayor also announced they were doing outreach to homebound seniors.
"We are going out to approximately 50 houses today to vaccinate some of those people who are homebound. So about 250 members of our community will be receiving the virus shot," he said.
And there was more.
"We just arranged this morning that next Thursday we're doing two senior centers in Hialeah as well," said Dr. R. J. Gosselin with Pulse Clinical Alliance.
At the Miami Dade College site, a steady stream of people patiently waited their turn. Currently, the vaccine is available to those 40 and older, law enforcement and firefighters, and K-12 teachers and childcare workers, and frontline healthcare workers.
On Monday, April 5th, everyone 18 and older in Florida will finally be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
"It's going to be a busy couple of days here and we're ready for it," said vaccination site spokesman Mike Jachles.
Wednesday morning, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava joined Black faith leaders at the Miami Dade College site to urge everyone to get the vaccine.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward and Publix vaccine sites will not be open on Sunday due to the Easter holiday.
But while shots are going into arms, just this week, another 85 cases of people infected with COVID-19 variants were detected in Florida.
"They lower the effectiveness of the current versions of the vaccines that we have under EUA. All three of them have a lower ability to protect you when we are talking about these variants," said Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease specialist with FIU.
Marty said due to these more contagious variants "there has been a shift in the need for a higher level of heard immunity."
"So, because of these new variants, we are now estimating we need at least 85 to 90 percent heard immunity," she said.
In other COVID news, both Pfizer and Moderna have begun their trials on children.
The first part of the Pfizer trial conducted on children ages 12- 15 has just been completed.
The study involved more than 2,000 individuals.
Dr. Marty said the data will soon be submitted to the FDA in hopes of expanding the current emergency use authorization. Ongoing trials are also being done on baby's as young as 6 months.
Dr. Marty said if the trails are completed before summer, maybe all children will be eligible to get a vaccine sooner than expected.
Floridians interested in getting vaccinated are encouraged to pre-register by calling: 866-201-6313, or 844-252-2003 for tty users. pre-registration can also be done by going to myvaccine.fl.gov. Once pre-registered, they'll be contacted when the vaccine is available in their area.
Vaccines are also available at these locations.
