DOH Leon Provides Week 24 Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts in Leon County 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2021

DOH Leon Provides Week 24 Updates on COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

 Tallahassee, FL --- The Department of Health in Leon County (DOH Leon) in partnership with the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and multiple public and private sector partners, continues its mission to get all Leon County residents vaccinated as quickly, safely, and equitable as possible. All of this as we continue our collective efforts related to limiting the spread of the virus and protecting public health.

This week, actions to continue a proactive approach to vaccination efforts in Leon County include the following as of June 3:

DOH Leon Vaccination Clinic Highlights:

• We have so far sponsored 42 vaccination clinics.
• We have successfully administered 29,775 doses through our health department to date.
• The vaccine team is offering Pfizer vaccinations to the new 12 to 15-year-old age group. Their parents or guardians must be present for the child to receive the vaccine.
• The department officially began administering COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday (June 1) at its new location inside DOH-Leon’s Roberts & Stevens Clinic at 1515 Old Bainbridge Road. Staff will administer doses every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. through the month of June.

Since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began in December 2020, Leon County has vaccinated a total of 124,992 people.  Providers have vaccinated 85 percent of all Leon County residents over the age of 65, and 47 percent of all Leon County residents 12 years of age and older. Among college graduates and young professionals (25-34 age group), 37% of their population have received at least one vaccine dose.

The Leon County Vax Map helps citizens find convenient locations that offer COVID-19 vaccinations. The online easy-to-use resource allows users to select a location from the existing map or search for a known address. In addition, permanent and pop-up COVID-19 testing sites can also be found on the county’s “Vax Map.”

Among Upcoming Community and Faith-Based Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Missions: Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee is finalizing logistics for a Community Unity Revival and COVID-19 Vaccination event to be held on Monday June 7 on church property (835 W. Tharpe Street). Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be offered, starting at 6:00 p.m.  Additionally, the Leon County Coronavirus Vaccination Community Education and Engagement Task Force is coordinating an effort to increase vaccination rates among Black men this Saturday, June 5.  An informational flyer is attached for the event called “Men All In.”

To date, more than 26,000 vaccines have been administered through the statewide homebound vaccination program.  The state continues to encourage homebound individuals to sign up and receive a COVID-19 vaccine at their home. Individuals can begin the registration process by calling 833-930-3672 or email homeboundvaccines@cdrmaguire.com. Find and complete a pre-screening survey at: https://homebound.patientportalfl.com/.  Only individuals who meet the U.S Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services criteria for homebound, are currently eligible for the vaccine.

Community partners continue programs offering free rides to help people reach their COVID-19 vaccine appointments.  2-1-1 Big Bend and Lyft are offering transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites through the Lyft Ride United Program. The project provides safe and reliable door to door rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointments at walk-up COVID-19 vaccination sites to those who are eligible to receive the vaccine. Rides can be set up by calling (850) 617-6325 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Additionally, Tallahassee’s Elder Care Services continues helping residents 60 years of age and older get to community vaccination sites. They can call (850) 921-5554 to schedule transportation. Individuals do not have to be officially enrolled in the Elder Care Services Program to take advantage of this opportunity.

Situational Update for COVID-19 in Leon County (5/30-6/05).  Our 7-day rolling average for new cases has averaged 28 per day for the past two weeks. So far, for this week, the average number of cases has significantly decreased to 7 per day.  The COVID-19 test positivity rate has been at 4.19% for the past two weeks, but so far this week, we have decreased to a 3.36% positivity rate. The number of hospitalized COVID patients has also fallen from the previous week.  As of today, Leon County has a known total of 31,887 confirmed cases and one new death has been documented since our last update. Sadly, we have now lost 331 Leon County residents since the beginning of the outbreak.

The Florida Department of Health issues a COVID-19 vaccine report that is updated daily.  This report includes information on the COVID-19 vaccine by county, race, sex, and age. The site also includes all available resources that we have on the state vaccination plan. Find the COVID-19 vaccine report here: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

For any additional questions about the vaccine at this time, the State COVID-19 Call Center can be reached by calling 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov  and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Submitted by:

Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer