Only 28% of Florida assisted living facilities have received COVID-19 vaccine, agency says

Residents of assisted living facilities in Central Florida are scheduled to receive their first COVID-19 shots by the end of next week.

According to CDR Maguire, the contractor hired by the state to handle vaccinations for assisted living facilities, contractors will be giving the vaccine in different counties each day this week.

READ: Here’s where to find the COVID-19 vaccine in your county

According to AHCA, the state’s agency for health care administration, most nursing homes in Florida have been vaccinated as of Tuesday. The agency said 662 out of the 695 in the state have received the vaccine.

But, the agency said, only 28% of assisted living facilities have received it. Data shows that shots have gone to about 900 assisted living facilities, meaning more than 2,200 are still waiting.

READ: Florida reports more than 9,800 new COVID-19 cases as governor announces plan to expand Publix vaccination program

Residents of Florida assisted living facilities and their families thought isolation would be behind them by now.

“I do have family members who have said to me, ‘I feel like we’ve been robbed of precious time with my mom or my dad because they don’t have a lot of time left,’” Kimberly Edwards, executive director of Encore Assisted Living Community, said.

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The COVID-19 vaccine could help them salvage the time they do have left. But she said the wait for it has been excruciating on them.

“The families are frustrated. I try to keep in contact with them to explain the process and what’s going on,” Edwards said.

But that wait will soon be over.

See the full vaccination schedule below:

Monday: Miami-Dade, Broward, Lee, Collier, Pasco

Tuesday/Wednesday: Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, Polk, Highland, Charlotte, Sarasota

Thursday/Friday: Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, Polk, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia

Next week: Marion, Sumter, Flagler

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