The Lake County Health Department will begin vaccinating senior citizens and health care workers on a first-come, first-served basis in Leesburg and Clermont Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging Florida seniors to be patient during a process that could take many weeks. He said the state will rely on hospitals and county health departments.
COVID-19 vaccinations will be available without an appointment at Cooper Memorial Library and Lake Sumter College. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning January 1st while supplies last.
Existing appointments will be honored.
Speaking in Delray Beach, DeSantis reiterated Florida's decision to prioritize seniors along with medical workers and nursing homes.
"We don’t have enough vaccine currently on hand for all 4 million-plus senior citizens in the state of Florida," he said. "Now we will get there. But it’s not going to happen overnight."
Sumter County -- with one of the country’s oldest populations -- is inoculating medical workers in preparation for mass vaccinations.
No events are scheduled. But patients with severe conditions can make an appointment starting Monday.
Marion County, on the other hand, has already registered more than 33,000 for shots beginning next Tuesday.
