On Wednesday Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the state will now target senior living communities with vaccines, with Osceola County on the list.
According to the governor beginning on Thursday, health care workers will be administering coronavirus vaccinations to the Solivita retirement community near Poinciana from 8 am to 4 pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
“This is yet another part of our approach to vaccination which is, simply, seniors first. And we’re the only state in the country that’s done over a million reported vaccinations for seniors,” DeSantis said.
At a news conference at Sun City Center Community Hall in Hillsborough County, the governor said the state is bringing so-called “vaccine pods” to communities that have a large number of residents over 65. He said the pods are the next step after focusing on long-term care facilities.
The distribution in Solivita will be similar to what has taken place in the Villages, with vaccinations being in car lines and golf cart lines.
The vaccination pod will be under the authority of emergency management in Polk County.
The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County is currently offering Pfizer vaccinations, both first and second doses at Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos Church in Kissimmee, but all appointments have currently been taken.
Jeremy Lanier, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health in Osceola County, said, “in addition to providing vaccinations, the Florida Department of Health in Osceola County continues to work with our community partners to identify other sources of vaccine availability in Osceola County.”
