Ages 50+ can now get vaccine

Posted on March 24, 2021

All Taylor County residents ages 50 and older are now eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine through the local health department after Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped the age requirements due to a “relatively modest” demand.

Effective Monday, March 22, vaccines are available to:

• People age 50 and older,

• Long-term care facility residents and staff,

• Frontline healthcare workers,

• Those who are determined to be “extremely vulnerable” by a physician (with a signed state form).

To date, 3,677 people have received the COVID vaccine in Taylor County, with 55% of the county’s senior citizen population having received at least one dose of the vaccine.

DOH-Taylor hosts mass vaccination clinics on Wednesdays or Fridays at Forest Capital Hall, depending on the supply and demand, with same-week appointments available. To make a vaccination appointment with DOH-Taylor, call (850) 584-5087.

Vaccines are also available by appointment only at the local CVS, as well as Winn Dixie.

There are currently three different COVID-19 vaccines available in Florida, including the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna vaccine, which is available through the local health department, and a one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is available at some Winn Dixie locations.

Over the past 14 days, Taylor County has logged 31 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the county’s total to 2,691.

The area has reported 94 hospitalizations and 45 deaths since the first local case was reported on April 2, 2020.

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