TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After months of anxious anticipation, all adults in Florida will finally be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Floridians 18 and older, as well as teens who are 16 and 17 and receiving the Pfizer vaccine, can begin getting their shots on April 5.
To help you prepare for the milestone, WPTV has put together an in-depth guide for where you can sign up for the vaccine.
FLORIDA'S REGISTRATION WEBSITE
Floridians are encouraged to pre-register for the vaccine on a state-operated website called MyVaccineFlorida by clicking here. You'll then be contacted when a vaccine appointment is available in your area.
PUBLIX
Publix is currently booking appointments every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting at 7 a.m.
Appointments made on Monday and Friday are for the Moderna vaccine, and those booked on Wednesday are for the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Publix, click here.
OTHER PHARMACIES
You can currently receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Winn-Dixie pharmacies as well. Appointments at those places can be made at any time, provided there are appointment slots available.
To make an appointment at CVS, click here.
To make an appointment at Walgreens, click here.
To make an appointment at Walmart and Sam's Club, click here.
To make an appointment at Winn Dixie, click here.
FEDERAL VACCINATION SITES
Four federally-operated vaccination sites throughout the state of Florida do not require an appointment. The sites are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each site can administer up to 3,000 doses of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine per day, and are scheduled to remain open until May 26. The sites are located at:
Miami-Dade College's North Campus
11380 Northwest 27th Avenue
Miami, FL 33167
Gateway Mall
5200 Norwood Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32208
Tampa Greyhound Track
755 East Waters Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604
Valencia College's West Campus
1800 South Kirkman Road
Orlando, FL 32811
For more information about the federal vaccination sites, as well as additional state-run sites in our area, click here.
HEALTH CARE DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County is now vaccinating eligible residents by appointment only at three locations: South Florida Fairgrounds near West Palm Beach, South Florida Civic Center in west Delray Beach, and the Burns Road Community Center in Palm Beach Gardens. The sites offer both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
The Health Care District has launched a self-scheduling tool that allows you to make an appointment at any time in real-time, provided that slots are open.
To make an appointment through the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, click here.
Beginning April 5, 2021, per state guidelines, the #COVID-19 vaccine eligibility requirements will include all Floridians. Eligible individuals can self-schedule appointments at https://t.co/tOOedWUPET.
— Health Care District of Palm Beach County (@healthcaredist) April 1, 2021
All appointments are based on vaccine availability.#CommunityImmunity pic.twitter.com/F8gvHVxFSk
WEST PALM BEACH
The city of West Palm Beach has opened a ProtectWPB mass vaccination site at the Mary V. McDonald Wilson Center at Gaines Park, located at 1501 North Australian Avenue.
The site will administer the Moderna vaccine every week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only. The location will operate through July.
To make an appointment, click here or call 561-200-3687.
The COVID-19 vaccine is a hot topic among college students and teenagers right now.
"We were in an Uber yesterday and the guy was talking about vaccines and we were all discussing it," said Katelyn Racanelli, 18, who's visiting from New York.
"It's hard. We have five kids and four out of the five are still teenagers, so they are at an age where they have to be part of that conversation. They’ve got to make good decisions," said parent Susan Willens.
Willens has already made vaccine appointments for her three boys. Two of her sons are 19 and 20, and her stepson Ryan is 18.
"I feel like I'm finally taking part in bringing the epidemic to an end," said Ryan Willens.
Willens is on a hybrid school schedule right now. He said having the vaccine will bring him peace of mind for those two days a week he’s on campus.
Susan used the CVS website to book their appointments. Her husband Mike was able to get his first vaccine through Palm Beach County.
"Last Saturday when they were releasing the 18 and up dates, we sat down when the new website went live at 10 a.m." Mike Willens said. "We had three laptops across this desk with the two of us sitting here for an hour and a half waiting our turn."
In Palm Beach County, nearly 7,000 people ages 16 to 24 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. That number expected to increase in the coming weeks.
"I personally want to get it. Just being immune to the coronavirus and like herd immunity is important," Racanelli said.