Palm Bay church to host 500-dose COVID-19 vaccination event; all appointments are booked Rick Neale, Florida Today
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As part of a pilot program, a state strike team will administer 500 COVID-19 vaccine doses Saturday at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in northeast Palm Bay.
“It’s a great opportunity for the underserved community. People were very emotional on the phone, said Bennie Jackson, who chairs the church s board of trustees. People were crying. People were pleading. People were crying when we had told them that they were accepted, they were so happy, Jackson said. We were just overwhelmed with requests, Jackson said.
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“We’ve taken care of COVID patients since March and it’s just been a lifesaver and I’m so glad to be part of the group that’s helping putting a stop to it,” Miller said.
Health First said after the first shot, recipients will be scheduled for their second shot, happening in the next four weeks.
Health First said it’s prepared to give up to a thousand vaccines a day.
“The more people that are vaccinated reduces the chance of giving it to somebody else so the more people we can give that vaccine to, it’s just less people in the community they can come in contact with,” Emergency Preparedness Manager Wayne Struble said.
What started as a week of triumph and hope for Florida in its fight against COVID-19 has ended in frustration and confusion, with the anticipated number of doses in future weeks sharply reduced and the rollout to nursing homes in flux.
Adding to the confusion is a lack of transparency from public officials, who have failed to provide requested information and clarification about which nursing homes will receive the first allotment of the vaccine or what criteria was used in selecting those homes.
“There is no time to waste!” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a tweet posted at 10:21 p.m. Thursday while announcing that Walgreens was going to immunize residents at an unnamed Jacksonville nursing home Friday, three days ahead of schedule.