Health

COVID-19 vaccine: Who’s next on the list to receive it?

Just a day after the Fraternal Order of Police sent a letter to the governor asking that law enforcement officers get moved up in line for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that day could be soon.

There could be some movement toward other groups to be vaccinated in just a few weeks.

Starting next week, the state will receive more than 400,000 doses of the vaccine. And at that rate, DeSantis said it will be just a few weeks until the state can expand vaccinations.

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The Fraternal Order of Police is asking DeSantis to consider law enforcement now for the vaccine. So far, 15 officers have died in the line of duty from COVID-19 here in the state.

But if they can’t move up, the order has asked that they receive leftover doses at the end of the day from vaccination sites.

There has been no response from the state. But today’s announcement seems to bring them closer than before.

READ: Florida reports 7,300 new COVID-19 cases, 165 virus-related deaths

It’s unclear what age the governor will open up or to what professions. Essential workers like transportation or food service could be the next in line under CDC guidelines, but what about the governor’s?

DeSantis said last month that when the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved, there would be more widespread vaccinations, and he could open those up to even more groups.

The governor was criticized Wednesday for giving people in Lake Wood Ranch their own vaccination site, with some questioning the choice of ZIP code.

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The governor defended that decision, saying he has done those pods in places like Sun City too and, if people in Manatee County don’t want the vaccine, to let him know and he will give it to someone else.

Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.