Leon County Seniors Can Get COVID-19 Vaccines This Week 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 29, 2020

DOH-LEON TO OFFER FREE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR PEOPLE AGES 65 AND OLDER

Tallahassee, Fla.—Leon County residents ages 65 and older will soon be able to get their first COVID-19 vaccination. Starting this Thursday, December 31, the Florida Department of Health in Leon County (DOH-Leon) is offering vaccine to high-risk frontline health care workers and those 65 and older.  The department is launching a series of drive-through clinics at its Administration Building located at 2965 Municipal Way.

Residents can call the Leon County COVID-19 Call Center at 850-404-6300 and choose option 1 to schedule an appointment. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Note: DOH-Leon main offices will be closed December 31 and January 1 in observance of the New Year holiday.)

COVID-19 vaccination appointments will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

Residents are asked to please bring government issued identification, and to expect to experience some possible delays in completing the vaccination process.

Eligible residents who sign up to receive the vaccination at the health department will receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. 

Leon County Health Department’s Health Officer Claudia Blackburn received her first vaccine this past weekend.  She says, “We have been waiting for the arrival of a vaccine since the pandemic began.  I am confident this vaccine and the others in development, will stop the spread of the virus and save lives.”  It is going to take some time for most of the population to get vaccinated. In the meantime, Ms. Blackburn says, “it is critically important we all keep wearing our masks, practicing social distancing, washing our hands frequently, and staying home if we are sick.”

According to the Florida Department of Health, the total number of Leon County residents who have been vaccinated so far, stands at just over one thousand.

For the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccine activity in Florida visit: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/covid-19-vaccines-in-florida/

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

On December 18, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the second vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19. The Moderna vaccine is a 2-dose series separated by 28 days.

According to CDC, both this disease and the vaccine are new.  We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who get infected or those who are vaccinated. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If

you get COVID-19, you risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Nextdoor. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Media Contact:

Pam Saulsby | Public Information Officer
850-518-5015