Brooksville, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Hernando County will host several COVID-19 vaccine dispensing options in response to Executive Order 21-47, for the following priority groups:

• Persons 65 years of age and older
• 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

Floridians 65 years of age and older will continue to use the CDR Maguire Online Registration Portal at www.patientportalfl.com or via phone at 844-770-8548. The portal will open for COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling on March 7, 2021 at 3 p.m. to schedule Floridians age 65 and older for the vaccine.

Persons 50 years of age and older who now qualify for the vaccine due to their employment status as defined above should reach out to their agency point-of contact.

• Hernando County Sworn law enforcement officers, 50 years of age and older: Major Kenneth Hayden, Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
• Hernando County Firefighters, 50 years of age and older: Division Chief Kenneth Wannen, Hernando County Fire and Emergency Services
• Hernando County K-12 school employees, 50 years of age and older: DOH-Hernando is working with school district administration to develop a plan for distribution. Further information will be provided directly to HCSD staff as it is made available.

For all vaccine clinics, appointments are required. Walkups will not be accommodated. Those receiving the vaccine will be required to provide documentation of age such as a driver’s license, government-issued ID, birth certificate or passport, or employment status for a qualifying priority group.

In addition to the above-named priority groups, pursuant to Executive Order 21-47, persons deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 also qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine. A form for physicians to certify an individual is extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 may be found at  https://bit.ly/3qbHLb4.        

Hernando County residents who believe they fall under the extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 priority group should contact their physician to determine eligibility. If eligible, they will need to take the completed form, signed by their physician, to their appointment at a participating pharmacy to receive the vaccine.

Appointments are required at each pharmacy location and can be made on the pharmacy’s website. Designated websites for each location include:

• Publix – https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida
• Walmart– http://www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine 
• Winn-Dixie – https://www.winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine

• At this time, the Health Department does NOT administer the COVID-19 vaccine to those persons 64 and younger who have been deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by their physician.

A full list of COVID-19 vaccine locations for the State of Florida can be found on the DOH website at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyHernando. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov .