DeSantis: Vaccine age drops to 50 on Monday

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arrives at Top of The World in Ocala, Florida, Friday, March 5, 2021, to give an update on COVID vaccinations. [Cyndi Chambers/Correspondent] 2021

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Posted March 19, 2021 | News Service of Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that Florida will start offering COVID-19 vaccines to all people age 50 and older starting Monday.

This week, Florida lowered the age threshold from 65 to 60, but the governor said softening demand convinced him the state could go to 50.

“The demand has been relatively modest, so we think this makes sense,” said DeSantis who made the announcement at a news conference where he was joined by emergency management Director Jared Moskowitz.

The pair also went over steps the state has taken to get “shots in arms” of residents. DeSantis’ announcement came after some local officials said they planned to lower the age threshold to 50, or, in the case of Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, to 40. DeSantis bristled when asked about the Orange County plans, saying “it’s not his decision to make.” He then called on Demings to do more to vaccinate older residents, saying that Orange County has only vaccinated about 63 percent of people age 65 or older.

DeSantis said the next step for Florida will be to open up the vaccines to all adults. He said he did not know the exact timing but made clear it would occur ahead of President Joe Biden’s May 1 goal.

“I can’t tell you exactly when that will happen, but it will definitely be before May 1,” DeSantis said.