CVS expands COVID-19 vaccination sites statewide, DeSantis announces in Florida news conference

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that an additional 76 CVS pharmacies in Florida will offer COVID-19 shots beginning Friday, roughly doubling the number of sites where the retail chain is hosting vaccinations statewide.

Appointment reservations can be made starting Thursday at CVS.com.

The expansion will include seven stores in Lee County, DeSantis said. He made the announcement during a news conference at a CVS Pharmacy in Lehigh Acres, which will be among the new vaccination sites.

This brings the total number of CVS stores offering vaccines to 157 in 30 Florida counties, DeSantis said.

The new sites will be in Alachua, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Columbia, Duvall, Escambia, Gulf, Hamilton, Fernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Marion, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

"It's (CVS stores) in all these communities. And they can do — depending on how they set it up — either 100 or 200 shots in a given day at each store," DeSantis said. "So, you put 30, 40, 50, 60 in a county, that makes a huge difference."

DeSantis similarly chose Southwest Florida, home to some of his strongest political support, to announce in January an expansion of vaccinations at Publix pharmacies.

As of Tuesday, Florida had provided more than 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including nearly 2.7 million to those 65 and older, according to the Florida Department of Health. In Lee County, more than 215,265 doses of vaccine have been administered. In Collier County, the number is 139,200.

DeSantis predicted that 60% of Florida seniors will soon have been vaccinated and credited his administration's decision to prioritize seniors in getting shots. Given that success, he said, Florida will open up vaccinations to all residents over 60 years old starting Monday.

Previously: Gov. DeSantis announces expanded Publix vaccinations throughout Florida

Lee Health to Gov. DeSantis: Send more vaccines to hospitals

Last week, the governor also expanded more broadly the eligibility of those under 65 with serious medical conditions. Hospital systems, such as Lee Health, had already been allowed to give shots to its own medically needy patients under 65.

He also announced last week that vaccines could be provided to those age 50 and up who are K-12 school employees, law enforcement officers and firefighters.

"We're starting to see around the state a softening of the demand among 65 and up because millions of them have gotten the shot," he said.

Did you know? Gov. DeSantis drops vaccine cutoff age to 60 starting Monday

And:New face mask factory in Fort Myers set to expand, awaits FDA approval

In addition to CVS, 730 Publix pharmacies offer the vaccine in Florida, 119 Walmart and Sam's Club sites, 43 Winn-Dixie sites and 12 Walgreens. DeSantis said he hopes to announce an expansion of Walgreen's "soon."

Even with the additional sites, many seniors continue to say they are still unable to get shots.

Among them is 80-year-old John Stumbo, a Vietnam veteran who was picking up a meal Monday at the American Legion Post #38 in downtown Fort Myers. He said he's been trying since the first vaccines were announced by contacting stores and the Lee County VA Clinic in Cape Coral.

"It just hasn't happened yet," he said. 

Kim Hooper said he wrote a letter to DeSantis, the state's Health Department and Lee County government asking why vaccines are so hard to find in Lee County for his 81-year-old sister. He said he's tried through Publix, the Department of Health in Lee County and with Walmart — all to no avail.

"I am not a health professional, but on the face of it wouldn't this show a need to allocate more opportunities to the residents of Lee County?" he wrote.

Besides the CVS Pharmacy in Lehigh Acres where DeSantis spoke Tuesday, other Lee County sites will include stores at 11300 State Road 82 in east Fort Myers, 16950 Pine Ridge Road in south Fort Myers, 15550 San Carlos Blvd. (near the Summerlin Road/McGregor Boulevard intersection) in south Fort Myers, 737 Cape Coral Parkway E. in Cape Coral, 11241 Miramar Square Blvd. (just off Corkscrew Road) in Estero and an store on Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Frank Gluck is a watchdog reporter with The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Connect with him at fgluck@news-press.com or on Twitter: @FrankGluck

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