Media Contact:
Megan McCarthy
DLCHD60PIO@flhealth.gov
352-569-3102

Bushnell, FLA - The purpose of this press release is to update you concerning COVID-19 activities in Sumter County. 

Mass vaccination activities are continuing in Sumter County.  The Sumter County Health Department provided 372 first doses at our event on March 1^st, 221 second doses at our event on March 2^nd, and 339 doses the vaccination event concluded on March 5^th. Unfortunately, a weather forecast of rain postponed vaccination activities on March 3^rd. Persons scheduled for March 3^rd have been contacted and will be vaccinated on March 15^th at the Wildwood Community Center.  Please understand that our vaccination activities are outdoor events and postponements may be necessary if we are not able to reserve an indoor venue in time to notify people of any change in location.

Future vaccination opportunities will still be serviced through the State of Florida wait list at: https://myvaccine.fl.gov/ or by phone at 866-201-7196. Persons registered through the State of Florida wait list will be asked to re-confirm their interest in receiving vaccination via a phone call and/or email. The phone call will come from phone number 352-569-3102. If you receive this call, please answer and reconfirm that you have not yet received your vaccination.

Global Medical Response (GMR) will be moving their vaccination activities to St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church on March 8^th.  They plan to start with an offer of 1,200 vaccinations per day, increasing over time to 1,600 vaccinations per day. Additional vaccination providers continue to be added to our list.  Medical providers who wish to sign up to be a COVID-19 vaccination provider, please follow the directions found at this link: http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/COVID-19VaccineInfo/index.html. 

On March 1^st, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed an Executive Order expanding the number of people eligible for vaccination (https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/orders/2021/EO_21-47.pdf). This executive order authorizes the following groups to be eligible for vaccination:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact
• K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older
• Persons deemed by their physician to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19

Persons who fall under this expanded vaccination eligibility can register through the State of Florida vaccination waiting list online at https://myvaccine.fl.gov/ or by phone at 866-201-7196.

Occupations now covered under this Executive Order will need to provide appropriate identification to show that they are covered under this order. Those individuals who are medically vulnerable and covered under this order will need to provide a hard copy of the medical vulnerability certificate signed by a Florida-licensed physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The certification form may be accessed at: http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_partners/covid19_report_archive/covid-physician-form/EO-21-47-Form.pdf.

My office may be reached at 352-569-3102 for any questions regarding this letter. 

Respectfully,

Sanford Zelnick D.O., M.S.

Director

Sumter County Health Department

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