Approximately 90 of the most vulnerable residents and 80 health care workers received the first doses of the John Knox Village Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, the community said.
Vera Leip, 88, has lived there for 16 years. She was among the first oldest in Florida to receive the vaccine Wednesday.
Leip was due to receive her dose around 9 am, but her vaccination was delayed until after Gov. Ron DeSantis arrived around 1pm
DeSantis left without raising questions from reporters.
Across the state, the elderly have been hit hard by this pandemic.
While residents 65 and older make up about 14% of Covid-19 cases in Florida, they make up about 83% of the 20,000+ coronavirus deaths in the state, according to Department of Data Florida Health.
And 39% of the state’s Covid-19 deaths are related to long-term care facilities – including residents and health care workers.
Now, the state is embracing a post-Thanksgiving rise of new diseases.
Since Thanksgiving Day, Covid-19 hospitals in Florida have risen 37%, according to the COVID Administration Project.
DeSantis announced last week that at least 21,450 doses of vaccine will go to long – term care facilities, with more expected in the coming days.
These 21,450 initial doses went to care facilities in two counties: Pinellas and Broward, according to the Florida Healthcare Association.