Florida surveys hospitals, pharmacies for COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan

In Florida, state officials have drafted a preliminary plan that calls for hospitals and pharmacies to play a major role in a COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Officials are still finalizing locations where residents would get vaccinated and where the doses would be stored. The state government earlier sent surveys to hospitals to determine their capacity for vaccinating people and storing a potentially ultra-cold vaccine. The preliminary plan also calls for county health departments to conduct dry runs by December 1 of how they would distribute the vaccine. The plan says health care workers would be among the first to get vaccinated, likely at participating hospitals. The state will also likely prioritize long-term care residents and staff as well as first responders. By 2021, Florida intends to open state- and county-run vaccination sites. When vaccines become sufficient for the general public, hospitals, county-run vaccination sites, pharmacies, and physician’s offices are expected to administer the vaccines.