FORT WALTON BEACH Frontline medical workers at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville are queuing up to receive Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine. The opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is now a reality, Mitch Mongell, the CEO at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, said in a news release.
The hospitals were on a list of 181 Florida medical facilities slated to receive a first shipment of the Moderna vaccine. Both announced Tuesday that the first doses had arrived and plans have been made to securely store and safely administer injections.
“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine is a pivotal turning point in our fight against this virus. The progress that has been made in these past few months is astounding. We are grateful to be able to provide this added protection to our care team members who have been an immense source of strength and support for our communities,” Mongell said.
But late Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis released a list of 181 Florida hospitals that would receive the first batch of vaccines produced by the Moderna company. This shipment is to include 270,700 doses that are scheduled to be distributed in the wake of Moderna s vaccine receiving an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.
The Moderna vaccines do not have to be stored in the ultra-cold conditions required by the Pfizer vaccines.
Among those hospitals on the list to receive Moderna shipments are Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital in Okaloosa County.
Ascension Sacred Heart, which has hospitals in Walton and Escambia counties, also made the list, as did Baptist and West Florida hospitals in Escambia, Gulf Breeze Hospital and Jay Hospital in Santa Rosa County, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Bay County and Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Washington County.
PENSACOLA HOSPITALS TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE wcoapensacola.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wcoapensacola.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
This shipment is to include 270,700 doses.
The Moderna vaccines do not have to be stored in the ultra-cold conditions required by the Pfizer vaccines.
Hospitals on the list to receive Moderna shipments are:
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (Okaloosa County)
Twin Cities Hospital (Okaloosa County)
Ascension Sacred Heart, (Escambia, Walton)
Baptist Hospital (Escambia)
We are gathering photos and remembrances of people in Northwest Florida who have lost their lives to COVID-19. If you are a family member who has lost a loved one and would like them remembered in this story or in our photo gallery, email photos and text to ntomecek@nwfdailynews.com.
Our thoughts are with you as you grieve your loss.
William Toannon
“We will pray, sing some songs and remember Bill for the amazing man of God he was,” loved ones said on the Facebook page “All About Bill.”
Toannon was the co-owner of Casbah Coffee and The Heights Classic Chicago Cuisine restaurant in downtown Crestview, and treasurer for the nonprofit Main Street Crestview Association.