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Florida lowering COVID-19 vaccine eligibility age to 50 starting Monday
On Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the age to be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine will be lowered to 50 starting on Monday.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis is not too pleased with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings decision to lower the eligibility age for COVID-19 vaccines to 40 and older.
"It’s not his decision to make. There’s a structure in the state of Florida in terms of how these decisions are made," he said during a conference in Tallahassee on Friday.
He added: "I would note, Orange County is below the state average in seniors vaccinated, they’re at 63%. Trying to do healthy 40-year-olds over finding maybe some more seniors, to me, would not be the direction that I would go."
RELATED: Florida lowering COVID-19 vaccine eligibility age to 50 starting Monday
On Friday, the governor announced that the age requirement statewide would be lowered to 50 starting on Monday.
Demings announced on Thursday that people 40 and older could start getting vaccinated in the county.
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Orange County to lower COVID-19 vaccination eligibility age to 40
Beginning Monday, the Orange County Convention Center will allow people ages 40 and older to get the coronavirus vaccine.
"We will lower the age to allow anyone 40 years old older, to go to the Orange County Convention Center and be vaccinated," said Demings.
RELATED: CDC: If you get this side effect from the 1st COVID-19 vaccine dose, don’t get the 2nd dose
You don't have to be an Orange County resident to get it, but you must be a resident of Florida. Vaccinations for the 40-plus group will begin on Monday at 9 a.m.
Mayor Deming said they have more than enough vaccines to make this change.
RELATED: Orange County to lower COVID-19 vaccination eligibility age to 40
"Each day, we have an available supply that is not getting in the arms of Individuals and they don't want it to just sit in storage," he added.
Mayor Deming said he didn't ask the governor for permission to lower the age because this site is run by the county, but he has informed state officials of the plan.
To book an appointment, or to find other vaccination options in the county, visit ocfl.net/Vaccine.