It’s been exactly one year since the World Health Organization made the announcement that COVID-19 had become a pandemic.
One year later, thanks to former President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed,” there are three vaccines available to prevent the virus.
Now, there will soon be more places to get the COVID vaccine in Palm Beach County. Walgreens and potentially the Dollar General store will join CVS in administering vaccines.
CVS is "making appointments available to pre-K through 12 educators, staff and childcare workers in all 17 states where we currently offer COVID-19 vaccines," with no age limit per federal guidelines! Way to go, CVS!😀👏https://t.co/jtUYMe3BcY
— Brent Kirkman (@KirkmanBrent) March 4, 2021
Walgreens will be offering vaccinations at four as yet undisclosed locations. You can make an appointment, starting today, at Walgreens.com.
Meanwhile, the CDC is in talks with Dollar General, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the nation’s rural areas.
Dollar General doesn’t have pharmacies, but it does have more than 16,000 locations, many of which are located in rural areas, where people don't have easy access to a big box store like Walmart. https://t.co/c6lbNJrIHt
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) March 10, 2021
Dollar General does not have pharmacies, but it has more than 16,000 locations. That’s about three times the number of locations as Walmart and more than half as many as CVS and Walgreens, all three of which are delivering COVID-19 vaccines at some of their pharmacy locations.
“In rural areas, residents often don’t have access to big-box stores,” Walensky said at the Health Action Alliance’s virtual National Business Summit. “We’re exploring a promising collaboration with Dollar General stores, which have locations that include refrigeration capacity within 10 or 15 miles of our rural communities in all but four states.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that after the state makes people 60 and older eligible for the COVID vaccine on Monday, he will soon lower the age to 55 and then probably open it up to the rest of the population.
The governor said at a news conference Wednesday in Sumterville, Florida that the process of vaccinating those between 60 and 64 may go quicker than expected because of the increase in the weekly supply the state is receiving. He said that each 5-year age group adds nearly 2 million people in population eligible for the vaccine.
Also, Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order yesterday that rescinds all COVID-related fines issued by local governments. And, Broward School Superintendent Robert Runcie announced yesterday that all classes to be held in-person this fall. Right now, students have the option to learn in-person or remotely.