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Important Updates Regarding Additional Populations Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines
March 3, 2021 - Important Updates Regarding Additional Populations Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines and Authorization for Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Biotech, Inc. COVID-19 Vaccine
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-47 (amending Executive Order 20-315) expanding the populations eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older, and health care personnel with direct patient contact, health care providers may also administer COVID-19 vaccines to K-12 school employees 50 years and older, sworn law enforcement officers 50 years and older, and firefighters 50 years and older.
Executive Order 21-47 establishes additional authority and criteria for the vaccination of persons under the age 65 deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by a physician. These individuals with a physician certification may be vaccinated by a physician, pharmacist or advanced practice registered nurse. The Department of Health (DOH) has issued Emergency Rule 64DER21-3 which includes the COVID-19 Determination of Extreme Vulnerability form DH8014-DCHP-03/2021 which must be completed and signed by a physician.
As authorized in Executive Order 20-315, hospital providers may continue to vaccinate individuals ages 16 to 64 who are medically vulnerable without the DOH form.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization to permit the emergency use of the product Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine for individuals 18 years of age or older. For more information regarding the use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, please review FDA’s Letter of Authorization issued on February 27, 2021.
If individuals qualify as health care personnel with direct patient contact, they are eligible to be vaccinated at any location, including a state or federal COVID-19 site. Some sites require appointments and others administer vaccinations without appointments, please review these requirements prior to traveling to an administration site.
For updates about the COVID-19 vaccine administration and distribution efforts, please visit FDOH COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida Webpage. The Florida Department of Health provides a daily COVID-19 vaccine report available at https://FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov