DOH-Leon Part of Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program 

For Immediate Release

December 15, 2020

DOH-Leon Participates in COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program with the Federal Government

Tallahassee, FL – Leon County will serve as one of several Florida counties taking part next week in a COVID-19 vaccination effort that will prioritize Moderna immunizations for residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and those who provide them care.

This initial distribution of vaccines to protect Florida’s most vulnerable residents is expected next week.

Per the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), LTCF residents and health care personnel are included in Phase 1 of the Florida vaccination distribution plan.

According to data released today by the Food and Drug Administration, the vaccine made by Moderna is highly protective for adults and prevents severe cases of COVID-19.

“The arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Leon County gives us an extraordinary opportunity to protect the most vulnerable residents and health care workers who have been hit especially hard by the pandemic as well as those who provide them care,” said Claudia Blackburn, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Leon County (DOH-Leon).  “We are dedicated to this community, we have a plan in place, and we are ready to begin as soon as the vaccine arrives,” Blackburn said.

The department expects to receive 2,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The logistics of the operation are still being finalized.

The COVID-19 vaccine is a monumental step toward getting this disease under control in Florida, but the department is still encouraging residents and visitors to take common sense precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus.

These include frequent hand washing, wearing face masks, maintaining six feet of social distancing, and staying home if you are feeling sick.

As details are finalized, DOH-Leon will release more information on the vaccination plan. Paramedic teams will administer the vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines from other manufacturers will be available for use at later dates as supplies reach the state.

For information about DOH-Leon, go to https://leon.floridahealth.gov or follow on Twitter at @healthyleonfl and Nextdoor.

-About the Florida Department of Health

The department, 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.

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

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Media Contact

Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer

850-404-6220

Pamela.saulsby@flhealth.gov