JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines were packed up and distributed across the country Monday.
So, when and where will the one dose vaccine be available on the First Coast?
Dr. Michael Koren, CEO of at Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, predicts it could be going into arms in northeast Florida as soon as Wednesday.
“This the same thing that happened for Pfizer, Moderna," Koren explained. "Literally within two or three days after the emergency authorization it was here in the hospitals."
ABC has confirmed the initial 3.9 million Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines available this week will be distributed in the following way:
- 2.8 m for states and local jurisdictions
- 800k to pharmacies
- 70k to community centers
- 90k to federally qualified health centers
Dr. Koren said he hopes to see the positive test rate in Florida continue to decline as more people are vaccinated
“I’m pretty optimistic that starting in early April we’ll see some pretty low levels, and there will be a sense of comfortability going out and doing things that we weren’t doing before," he added.
First Coast News reached out to all of the local health departments, and the only one who is currently expecting Johnson & Johnson doses is Duval County.
It received confirmation that an order was placed, and should receive a shipment sometime this week. The Duval County DOH spokesperson said the understanding is that the shipment will then be distributed to the federal vaccination sites.
In fact, one of the four in Florida was set up in North Jacksonville Monday.
For now, the Gateway Mall hub is ready to distribute up to 2,000 Pfizer vaccines a day starting Wednesday.
Staff running the hub said there will also be two satellite sites in northwest Jacksonville at the Hammond Senior Center and on the westside at the Normandy Community Center on Lindsey Road, which will each have an additional 500 Pfizer vaccines available a day for those who are eligible.
Through a partnership between FEMA and state entities, the hub will be administrating shots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and satellite sites will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Florida residents can register online at myvaccine.fl.gov, but walk-ups will also be accepted.