ORLANDO, Fla. — Starting Monday, Floridians as young as 16 will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
Even local pharmacies that aren’t yet offering the vaccines are busy preparing as demand for the vaccine grows along with an increase in available doses.
Dr. Amy Lynn Safaty is the Pharmacy Manager at the CVS store on West Sand Lake Road in Orange County.
READ: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine batch fails quality check
💉 ICYMI: Beginning tomorrow, March 29, all individuals ages 40 & older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning Monday, April 5, all individuals ages 18 & older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) March 28, 2021
➡️ Learn more - https://t.co/KYss1p0vPa
Dr. Safaty’s store is one that doesn’t currently offer COVID-19 vaccines, but they’ve been busy preparing for the day that may change.
“I really hope that we will, yes,” Dr. Safaty says. “Honestly, every week, I keep hoping that we’re going to get the call that we will get the vaccine.”
Dr. Safaty says she’s seen first-hand the demand for the vaccines in the community her store serves.
“Walking in off the street without any idea, just to see if we do have it.”
READ: When will children be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Others, Dr. Safaty says, are regulars who may lack adequate transportation, or who would simply rather wait until her store does offer the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccines will help bring us all #OneStepCloser to being together again. Learn what to expect when you get your vaccination at CVS Pharmacy. Check our site for vaccine availability: https://t.co/pqY6YTi4m1 https://t.co/r1g7GtD2Lq
— CVS Pharmacy (@cvspharmacy) March 30, 2021
“You can go these other locations, but they say ‘no, I want to wait for you to give it to me,’” Safaty says. “Because they know it’s comfortable to them to have the relationship. They don’t have to worry about going somewhere unknown to them.”
Dr. Safaty says if her store does get the call from corporate saying she’ll get doses, her staff will be ready to administer them right away.
“All my employees, then went in, were very eager to be able to do the training.” Dr. Safaty says.
READ: Florida reports more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases, 92 virus-related deaths
If they don’t get the vaccines, the training can still be put to use by employees who fill extra ships and help administer vaccines at other stores throughout the area.
According to CVS’ website, there are 30 Central Florida communities with stores already administering doses and approximately 140 statewide.
Cox Media Group
