COVID vaccine live updates: What you should know in South Florida on Thursday, March 25
COVID-19 vaccine rules can be confusing in South Florida. Here’s the latest news on where shots are available and who is eligible:
What’s new today?
▪ All Floridians 18 and older will soon be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. And you don’t have to wait until April 5 to sign up for a shot. Florida has a statewide preregistration system that allows you to sign up for a vaccination wait list. So does Miami-Dade County. Anyone who pre-registers for a vaccine appointment will be notified when slots become available.
▪ Floridians age 18 and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. On Monday, the age criteria drops from 50 to 40. Proof of Florida residency will be required.
▪ Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 last year will soon be able to apply for reimbursement of their funeral costs through a new federal assistance program. The program will provide up to $9,000 per funeral, with people who lost multiple family members to COVID-19 eligible to apply for up to $35,000. Applications open in April.
▪ The O, Miami poetry festival will pay tribute to who we’ve lost this year with one of its new projects “Remembrance to Order.” Miami-Dade residents who have lost someone (from COVID or any cause) can fill out a form at the O, Miami website, and the festival will assign a poet to write a poem in English or Spanish about the loved one.
▪ Staples is laminating COVID-19 vaccination cards for free through May 1 at stores nationwide. The cards are given to you the day of your first shot. If you received Pfizer or Moderna, you should wait to get your second dose before getting the card laminated. You may need to show the card in the future for work or travel, so it’s best to store it with your passport or other valuables.
▪ What does the path to recovery in Miami look like after COVID? We’re gathering a panel of experts on government, business and public health who have been on the frontlines during COVID-19. Join us for our Florida Priorities panel, “The COVID Crisis: Returning to work and looking ahead” on Tuesday, March 30 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP now to reserve your spot and submit a question to our panel.
▪ Celebrating your vaccination? Miami Herald food editor Carlos Frias has compiled his personal list of favorite eating spots, How to Eat Like a Local in Miami. You might find some culinary gems there.
Who can get COVID-19 vaccines in Florida and who can’t? Do you need proof of residency?
Florida is giving vaccines to health care workers, long-term care residents and staff and people 50 and older. Anyone under 50 who a physician determines is “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19 because of a preexisting medical condition can also get the vaccine.
Keep in mind that people with high-risk conditions will need their physician to sign an “at-risk” form before they can get the vaccine. The form can be downloaded at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/. Some hospitals may not accept the form because they have their own system in place or have additional requirements.
It’s also worth noting that pre-K-12 school personnel and child care workers can also get the vaccine at federal-run sites and pharmacies across the state.
Only Florida residents and snowbirds can get the vaccine, but there is no county residency requirement in place. That means that if you live in Miami-Dade, you can get the vaccine in Broward, or vice versa. You will need to show proof of Florida residency.
For snowbirds or part-time residents, the proof needs to be in the form of two documents such as a lease agreement and a utility bill no more than two months old, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Anyone else who lives in another state or country can no longer get the vaccine in Florida. Nonresidents who have already received the first dose in Florida will still be able to get the second dose.
The change was made to curb vaccine tourism, or people who travel from another state or country to get the vaccine in Miami or another part of the state.
Who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine?
People who have had a severe allergic reaction to ingredients in the vaccine or had a severe reaction after a previous dose. Ingredients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be found on FDA.gov.
How many people have received the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida?
According to the state’s Wednesday COVID-19 vaccine report, 186,836 people have completed the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine and 2,666,831 people have completed the two-dose series of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
Of those who have been fully vaccinated, 328,883 were Miami-Dade residents, 248,180 were Broward residents, 252,603 were Palm Beach residents and 10,902 were Monroe residents.
What COVID-19 vaccines are available in Florida? How many doses do I need?
Florida has three vaccines available: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two shots, three weeks apart, and can be given to people 16 and older. Moderna’s vaccine requires two shots, one month apart, and can be given to people 18 and older. Johnson & Johnson’s is a single dose and can be given to people 18 and older.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not interchangeable, however, which means that if your first shot was the Pfizer vaccine, your second shot cannot be the Moderna vaccine, according to the CDC.
COVID-19 vaccination sites in South Florida?
Pharmacies:
The following pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines in select stores by appointment-only:
▪ Publix stores in Florida offer vaccines, although the website frequently says appointments are “fully booked.” Visit publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida.
▪ Navarro Discount Pharmacies and CVS y más stores in Miami-Dade. Some traditional CVS stores across Florida also have doses. To check for availability, visit CVS.com or call customer service at 800-746-7287.
▪ Some Winn-Dixie and Fresco y Más stores offer vaccines in South Florida. For Winn-Dixie, visit winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine. For Fresco y Mas, visit frescoymas.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine.
▪ Some Walmart and Sam’s Club stores offer vaccines, including in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Walmart, visit walmart.com/COVIDvaccine. For Sam’s Clubs, visit samsclub.com/covid.
▪ Some Walgreens stores offer vaccines, including in Palm Beach County. To check for availability visit https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp
Federally supported site in Miami-Dade
▪ Miami Dade College North campus is the first federally supported vaccination site to open in South Florida. Appointments are not required and walk-ins are welcome. The site is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is a walk-up, which means people wait in line instead of in their car.
Anyone who lives in Florida and falls under the state’s vaccine criteria can get the vaccine at MDC North. This includes people with at risk conditions who have an “at risk” form signed by their physician. A doctor’s note is also accepted. Pre-K-12th grade school employees and childcare workers can also get the vaccine.
The FEMA pop-up sites are at Ronselli Park Youth Center, 250 SW 114th Ave. in Sweetwater, and Florida City Youth Activity Center, 650 NW Fifth Ave. The sites will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 31 and will then move to North Miami Beach and Miami Springs. The pop-ups are administering second dose Pfizer shots only.
MDC North will stop offering first dose Pfizer shots and only offer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine from April 7 to April 14.
Preregister for an appointment in Miami-Dade and Broward counties
People 50 and older, healthcare workers with direct patient contact, and people deemed by their physician to be “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19 can preregister for an appointment in Florida through a statewide website and phone system. Long-term care residents and staff can preregister, too.
The website is myvaccine.fl.gov. You can also pre-register by phone. To find the designated number for your county, visit floridahealthcovid19.gov.
Anyone who preregisters for a vaccine appointment will be notified when slots become available at state-supported or federally supported vaccination sites in their county, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which is tasked with the state’s vaccine distribution. Once you get an appointment, you will need to show proof that you are a Florida resident.
State-run sites in Miami-Dade County include Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Marlins Park in Miami.
State-run sites in Broward County include Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs, Markham Park in Sunrise, Tree Tops Park in Davie, Trade Winds Park in Coconut Creek and Central Regional Park in Lauderhill, and Broward College’s Coconut Creek campus.
Keep in mind that people under 50 with high-risk conditions will need their physician to sign an “at-risk” form before they can get the vaccine. The form can be downloaded at floridahealthcovid19.gov.
Florida residents who do not meet the priority criteria can also sign up to receive email updates to learn when they will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
Hospitals and other COVID-19 vaccination sites in Miami-Dade, Broward
Miami-Dade County:
The county has a website, miamidade.gov/vaccine, where it posts updates on where seniors and eventually the rest of the general public, will be able to find and schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
People 50 and older and healthcare workers with direct patient contact can book a slot through the portal. So can law enforcement, firefighters and pre-k-12 school personnel of all ages. Long-term care residents and staff can preregister, too.
Anyone 18- 49 considered by their physician to be “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19 will also be able to schedule a slot. Everyone who books a slot will need to show proof of Florida residency.
If you are a healthcare worker, law enforcement, firefighter or an educator, you will also need to show proof of employment with a badge, ID or paystub. People under 50 with an at risk condition will need to show a physician-signed “at risk” form that can be downloaded from the Florida Department of Health’s website or from the county’s online portal.
County-run sites include Zoo Miami, Tropical Park and the Homestead Sports Complex. You can also call 305-614-2014 to preregister.
Florida residents who don’t qualify for the vaccine yet can also sign up through the website to be given updates on the county’s vaccination process.
Here are other places that have vaccines. Some locations may be vaccinating specific groups from Florida’s priority list so check the location’s website for details.
▪ The City of Opa-locka COVID-19 vaccine site is at the Helen Miller Center, 2331 NW 143rd Street. The site is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments are not required but pre-registration is recommended. To pre-register, visit Commvax.patientportalfl.com.
▪ Community Medical Group is offering doses at its Miami center, 1490 NW 27th Ave., and Florida City center, 751 West Palm Drive. Walk-ups are accepted on Saturdays and to schedule an appointment call 786-667-3167.
▪ Bucky Dent Park, 2250 W. 60th St., in Hialeah. Anyone who meets Florida’s vaccine criteria can get a shot here. No appointments are needed. You will wait standing in line, instead of in your car. The site is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or until supplies run out.
▪ Overtown Youth Center, 1551 NW First Ave, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. The state-run site does not require appointments. You will wait standing in line, instead of in your car. You must fall into one of Florida’s priority groups to get the vaccine.
▪ Oak Grove Park, 690 NE 159th St. is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The state-run site does not require appointments. You will wait standing in line, instead of in your car. You must fall into one of Florida’s priority groups to get the vaccine.
▪ Homebound seniors can email their name and phone number to HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com and someone will get back to you about setting up an appointment. You can also call 866-779-6121 to schedule an appointment.
▪ Jackson Health System, the county’s public hospital network. To check for available appointments, visit https://jhsmiami.org/comvac/.
▪ Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach is no longer booking appointments and has canceled all first-dose appointments for Jan. 23 and later because of supply constraints. Second-dose appointments are not affected. To check for updates, visit msmc.com/coronavirus-update/
▪ Baptist Health is one of the county’s largest private hospitals. To check for updates, visit Baptisthealth.net/vaccine.
▪ Seniors who seek care with Leon Medical Centers can call customer service at 305-642-5366 to schedule a free COVID-19 vaccination appointment. If you need transportation, let the operator know so they can also schedule a driver to pick you up. Appointments will be scheduled until Leon runs out of vaccines.
▪ Jessie Trice Community Health System is offering vaccines to people eligible under Florida’s guidelines. To check for available appointments, call 305-637-6400.
▪ Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is offering vaccines to young adults ages 16 to 21 who are being treated for certain high-risk medical conditions. To check for slots, visit Nicklauschildrens.org/Covid19Vaccine.
▪ All veterans in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties who are patients of the Miami VA Healthcare System can get the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of age and medical condition. You must be enrolled and eligible for VA healthcare benefits. Some of the sites require appointments, other locations accept walk-ins. Veterans who want to make an appointment can call 305-575-7000 or contact their care team. To learn more, visit https://www.miami.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp
Broward County:
▪ Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale is offering COVID-19 vaccines to people under 65 who have certain medical conditions that make them at risk for severe COVID complications. Priority will be given to Holy Cross Medical Group patients, the hospital said. For details on how to request an appointment, visit www.holy-cross.com/covidvaccine.
▪ Broward Health, to check for appointments, visit https://www.browardhealth.org/pages/being-healthy-vaccine
▪ Fort Lauderdale’s Inter Miami CF Stadium is a COVID-19 vaccination site. Appointments for this site are also booked through BrowardHealth.org
▪ Memorial Healthcare System ran out of COVID-19 vaccines. Once doses are available again, appointments can be made through the MyChart portal, https://mychart.mhs.net for current Memorial Healthcare patients. Others will have to call 954-276-4340.
The appointment-only vaccine locations listed in the website above are:
The Memorial Regional Conference Center, 3501 Johnson St. in Hollywood, noon to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Memorial Specialty Pharmacy, 9581 Premier Pkwy. in Miramar, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Certain high-risk 16- and 17-year-old patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital may also be eligible for the vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled through their MyChart account.
▪ All Cleveland Clinic Florida locations, including its Weston campus, have run out of vaccination appointments for now. Cleveland Clinic said it will resume scheduling appointments through its website for current patients once it gets more doses. To check for slots, visit https://my.clevelandclinic.org/landing/covid-19-vaccine/florida
COVID-19 vaccines in Monroe County?
More places are offering the COVID-19 vaccine in the Florida Keys.
Eligible Florida residents can now get vaccinated at Winn-Dixie stores in Key West and Tavernier, and at all Publix stores along the island chain. Appointments are required.
For Winn-Dixie, check https://www.winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine. For Publix, check https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida.
This story was originally published March 25, 2021 at 7:13 AM with the headline "COVID vaccine live updates: What you should know in South Florida on Thursday, March 25."
