DOH Leon Provides Week 12 Updates on COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2021

DOH Leon Provides Week 12 Updates on Vaccine Efforts in Leon County

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 other key community partners, continues its mission to get all Leon County residents vaccinated quickly and fairly. This, as we continue all our responses related to limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting public health.

The following information provides Week 12 updates on vaccination efforts in Leon County as of March 10.

DOH Leon is postponing its COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Saturday March 13 due to a softening demand from priority groups now eligible for vaccines. The next clinic is scheduled for Tuesday March 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DOH Leon Vaccination Clinic Highlights:

We have administered 19,799 doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines through our health department to date.

We have sponsored 22 vaccination clinics.

The vaccine team successfully administered vaccines on Saturday, March 6 at a clinic dedicated specifically for eligible Leon County Schools employees.

The DOH Leon vaccination team is working with partners and preparing to make adjustments as needed in response to an amended executive order signed by Governor DeSantis.  Executive Order 21-62 lowers eligibility to individuals who are 60 years of age or older for COVID-19 vaccine during this first phase of distribution. Effective March 15, eligible individuals include:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Persons 60 years of age and older
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact
• K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older

All individuals authorized by law to administer COVID-19 vaccinations may vaccinate persons determined by a physician to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Such physician determination requires a statement of eligibility form prescribed by the Florida Department of Health. Click here for the physician’s form.

Florida A & M University’s Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center (1800 Wahnish Way) has expanded operations at its COVID-19 vaccine clinic to include an advanced practice registered nurse on site.  This action allows the center to vaccinate those deemed by a physician to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. The state supported walk-up site is already vaccinating eligible school employees, law enforcement officers, firefighters as well as those 65 and over and healthcare workers.  Individuals must bring identification verifying their date of birth and place of employment. The clinic is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walkups are accepted, but online registration is recommended using this link. 

Since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began in late December, Leon County has administered a total of 86,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 52,800 people have been vaccinated. 33,200 individuals in the county have completed their vaccine series and are now considered fully immunized against COVID-19.

DOH Leon is administering vaccines to residents receiving appointments through the statewide preregistration system.  Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available immediately. Those who are eligible can start the process by visiting https://myvaccine.fl.gov/. The system will notify those who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when appointments are available by text, email, or phone call and they will be assisted in scheduling an appointment. Those without internet access can call 866-200-3856. The TTY number for deaf and hard of hearing people is 833-476-1455. The vaccine registration website has been expanded to Spanish and Haitian Creole. Additionally, there is a helpline for Leon County residents with questions about the appointment system:  833-540-2054. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 DOH Leon vaccination clinics operate by appointment only.  A government-issued photo ID is required, and if applicable proof of employment such as an identification badge.  The schedule is subject to change based on vaccine supply and inclement weather. Vaccination clinics are held at:

            DOH Leon Administration Building

            2965 Municipal Way

            Tallahassee, FL  32304

The faith-based vaccine initiative to increase access continues in Leon County. Jacob Chapel Baptist Church in Tallahassee (233 Lake Bradford Road) is confirmed to host a COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinic on Friday, March 19. Please see attached flyer. The site will open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To make an appointment those who are eligible are invited to call 850-574-3150.  In January, Governor DeSantis directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to work with the faith-based community to identify places of worship and other locations in underserved communities where the vaccine may be administered. Since then, according to FDEM, the state has worked with the faith-based community to administer the vaccine at 70 events in underserved communities.

 A communitywide COVID-19 public education initiative was formally launched on Wednesday March 10.  It combines the resources of local governments, local hospitals and health care providers, the Leon public school system, the faith community, business, and media partners to keep the public informed and provide up-to-date information on COVID-19. The central focus is not just on Tallahassee but the entire Big Bend region. Click here to visit the Safe and Healthy Big Bend website.

Community partners offer rides to seniors with appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  2-1-1 in partnership with The United Way, 2-1-1 Big Bend and Lyft is offering transportation to COVID-19 vaccine 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. Rides can be set up by calling (850) 617-6325 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare continues its series “State of COVID-19 in Leon County Community Update” at noon this Friday, March 12. This virtual chat collectively brings together key community leaders for an open conversation about COVID-19. The discussion begins at noon via Zoom and is streamed live on Facebook. Get details on how to register here.

DOH Leon continues to see improvement in key COVID-19 metrics. Cases have decreased over the past two weeks. Our 7-day rolling average for new cases has averaged about 50 per day for the past two weeks (2/24-3/9). The number of hospitalized COVID patients has also fallen in the Leon County area. Deaths are not leveling off. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 291 residents. The test positivity rate in Leon County is low, suggesting that testing capacity is meeting current demand. So far for this week, Leon County is at a 2.45% positivity rate. Find more data on COVID-19 cases, testing, and fatalities specific to Leon County here.  Additionally, there have been no new cases of the UK COVID-19 variant identified in Leon County.  We stand at four cases of the B117 variant. Data suggest this variant may be more contagious than the original virus but does not suggest that it causes more severe disease. Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against this and other mutations.

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.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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Submitted by: Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer