Florida Senator Doug Broxson, left, pictured during Governor Ron DeSantis’ press conference this morning in Pensacola
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday visited a mass vaccination clinic at Olive Baptist Church and promised more vaccines will be available in the near future.
Ascension Sacred Heart facilitated two mass vaccination clinics on Wednesday and Thursday, including the one at Olive Baptist Church and a second site at Milton Community Center in Milton.
“This is an exciting day,” Justin Labrato, chief operating officer for Ascension Sacred Heart, said Wednesday.
According to Labrato, around 3,500 vaccines were to be administered at the two sites.
Labrato also thanked Ascension staff and partners, noting that 62,000 tests have performed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “But it’s all about the vaccine. The vaccine is the only way we’ll make a dent in this,” Labrato said.
DeSantis praised the effort of public and faith-based organizations to work together to address the vaccine distribution.
“I think this is a model of how these things can work,” DeSantis said, pointing out that some of the state’s drive-through testing sites will also be converted to vaccine clinics. He also noted that 1,000 contract nurses will also be deployed to help facilitate administration.
Additionally, DeSantis said in partnership with Publix, starting Friday vaccines will be administered at 22 pharmacies in Citrus, Hernando and Marion Counties, noting that effort could be potentially expanded to Publix stores statewide.
“If you couldn’t get a reservation (today or tomorrow, there will be more opportunities soon),” DeSantis said.
Labrato said that as soon as more vaccines become available people 65 years of age and older can register for an appointment via https://shhs-ascensionhealth.inquicker.com/laboratory-services.
