Vaccinations are easier to find in South Florida this month. Many sites take walkups without appointment.
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About 38% of the population of Florida has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The FDOH April 19 report shows 8,069,752 persons have been vaccinated for at least one dose and 5,113,696 persons have completed their vaccination series.
Vaccination numbers continue to rise for South Central Florida counties as more vaccine becomes accessible, and all of those age 18 and older are not eligible to be vaccinated.
• Collier County: 176,126 have received at least one dose; 60,258 have completed the vaccination series.
• Glades County: 2,898 have received at least one dose; 1,916 have completed the vaccination series.
• Hendry County: 10,414 have received at least one dose; 6,353 have completed the vaccination series.
• Highlands County: 39,443 have received at least one dose; 24,201 have completed the vaccination series.
• Martin County: 70,524 have received at least one dose; 46,093 have completed the vaccination series.
• Okeechobee County: 10,664 have received at least one dose; 6,582 have completed the vaccination series.
• Palm Beach County: 592,917 have received at least one dose; 367,327 have completed the vaccination series.
Vaccinations are available at Publix, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. See the websites for these pharmacies to make an appointment. Family Drugs of Indiantown and Heartland Pharmacy in Okeechobee also have vaccine.
FDOH has vaccination clinics throughout the state. Most counties use the state appointment system, myvaccine.fl.gov. Those without internet access may call to put their names on the vaccination waitlist:
• Collier County: 866-201-4885;
Many of the vaccination sites accept walkups without appointments if vaccine is available.
Health officials encourage those over the age of 18 to be vaccinated as the virus continues to spread. Variants of the virus, which are more contagious than the initial strain, have been found in Florida.
Florida Department of Health reports that since the pandemic started in 2020, 88,274 Florida residents have been hospitalized. According to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), as of April 19:
• Fifty Collier County residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19. The county has 27 ICU beds open.
• No Glades County residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19.
• In Highlands County, 36 residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19. The county has five ICU beds open.
• Three Hendry County residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Hendry County had three ICU beds open.
Since the pandemic started, 34,471 Florida resident deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.
Around the lake, the death toll has been:
• Collier County - 514;
• Glades County - 19;
• Hendry County - 79;
• Highlands County - 338;
• Martin County - 314;
• Okeechobee County - 87;
• Palm Beach County - 2,723.
Health officials encourage Florida residents to continue to maintain 6 feet of social distance between themselves and those who are not members of their immediate household and to wear cloth face coverings in public spaces where it is not possible to maintain 6 feet of distance.