TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Coronavirus vaccine eligibility is expanding to older teachers and first responders and becoming more available for younger people considered vulnerable to COVID-19 under an executive order signed Monday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Teachers, school employees, firefighters and law enforcement officers who are 50 and older will be able to get the shot starting on Wednesday, according to the order.
The order also allows for younger people deemed extremely vulnerable to the virus to get the shot at doctors’ offices or pharmacies. Previously, the group could only get vaccinated at hospitals.
DeSantis had announced he was expanding eligibility to some teachers and law enforcement officers last week but had not issued the order.
Florida’s health data shows 1.7 million people have completed their two doses of the vaccines, and DeSantis says five counties have already inoculated more than two-thirds of their senior population.
The governor also said on Monday that Florida expects about 175,000 of the Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, which may cover the new population that became eligible.
