Florida residents 16 years old and older will soon be able to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Staring April 5, Florida residents aged 16 and 17 will be among those able to receive one of the approved vaccines.
Last week, state Governor Ron DeSantis had announced that as of April 5th, residents over the age of 18 would be able to get any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
However, those under the age of 18 were left wondering if they could also get vaccinated. Other states like Texas and Georgia have expanded vaccine eligibility to include 16 and 17-year-olds.
The Florida Department of Health later clarified that those ages 16 and 17 will be able to get the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently authorized for those 16 and older.
A statement from the health department read:
“At this time, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for individuals under the age of 18. The state is continuing to follow all FDA-issued Emergency Use Authorizations guidance when administering the COVID-19 vaccine. In accordance with this guidance, individuals 16 and older will be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. These individuals will also be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine on April 5. The state will continue to release additional details on how individuals 16 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine, as they become available.”
The state said 16 and 17-year-olds will need to have a form signed by their parents to authorize them to get the shot or be accompanied by a parent to the vaccine site.
Floridians are encouraged to pre-register at www.myvaccine.fl.gov. Once pre-registered, they’ll be contacted when the vaccine is available in their area.
As of March 29, the eligibility requirement for getting the vaccine in Florida dropped from 50 to 40.
