October 27, 2021: Most Recent Publishings form the CDC for your reference!

To Follow Boward County's Covid-19 Progress, Please Click on the Link Below.

Statistical Disease Updates are Posted Only on Weekdays. 

For Information About Covid-19 Testing and Vaccinations, Please Click on the

"Collection Sites" & "Vaccination Sites" Tabs Respectively.

Also, Review the "JIC - Snapshot Updates" on the Joint Information Center Tab for

Additional Important Breaking Information

https://www.broward.org/CoronaVirus/Pages/Updates.aspx?=Closings

As sad as this is, there are unscroupulous and criminal individuals trying to take advantage of people during this pandemic crisis. Health and government employees will never ask you for your financial information, your social security number, or request access to your computer or device. If you receive a request for these items by phone or email, please report this to the Florida Attorney General's Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226.

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Update - April 21, 2021 For Veterans, Spouses, and Caregivers:

Special One-Day Covid Vaccination Event: April 24th!

See details of the expanded eligibility for veterans and families below:

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Update - April 7, 2021 For Veterans, Spouses, and Caregivers:

See details of the expanded eligibility for veterans and families below:

Miami VA expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, caregivers and spouses in South Florida under SAVE LIVES Act The Miami VA Healthcare System announced today it is providing COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone who served in the military, and their caregivers and spouses, and some other beneficiaries under the authority granted by the SAVE LIVES Act, signed by President Joe Biden. “Since the start of the pandemic, the Miami VA has been focused on vaccinating as many Veterans as possible,” said Kalautie JangDhari, director of the Miami VA. “Now, we hope that every Veteran and their spouse or caregiver takes advantage of this opportunity to get their vaccination.” Vaccines are available for walk-ins or by appointment, while supplies last, at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center and the William "Bill" Kling VA Clinic. Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center 1201 NW 16th St, Miami FL 33125 Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. By appointment or walk-in while supplies last William "Bill" Kling VA Clinic 9800 W Commercial Blvd, Sunrise FL 33351 Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. By appointment or walk-in while supplies last Appointment-only Vaccine clinics for enrolled Veterans are available at other Miami VA locations in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties. Appointments can be made by calling 305.575.7000 ext. 12085. Enrolled Veterans can also use the walk-in clinics. Appointments are not required but are encouraged. All individuals eligible under the SAVES LIVES Act who are interested in getting an appointment should go to www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine to register. Vaccine Eligibility at the Miami VA Healthcare System: Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care or currently receive care at VA, and Designated primary and secondary family caregivers who are enrolled in our Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and come with the Veteran to get a vaccine  These groups are now also eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine as supply allows: All Veterans  Eligibility includes anyone who served in the U.S. military, including the U.S. National Guard, Reserves, or Coast Guard, as well as: Commissioned officers of the Regular or Reserve Corp of the Public Health Service, or Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or Coast and Geodetic Survey), or Cadets at the U.S. Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, or Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy Spouses and surviving spouses of Veterans For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we are including spouses of same-sex and common-law marriages. Eligibility includes a widow or widower of a Veteran. If an individual characterizes his or her relationship as spousal, he or she can receive the vaccine. Caregivers of Veterans. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veteran. Caregivers may help a Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation.  Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits. Registration under the Saves Lives Act can be done online at https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed or onsite at a walk-in clinic. Please bring Photo ID. Recipients must meet CDC age requirements for vaccine administration. The expanded authority depends on readily available COVID-19 vaccine supply and requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue to prioritize Veterans enrolled in VA care.

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Update - March 25, 2021 For All Floridians:

Many more Floridians will be eligible for Covid-19 Vaccinations starting at age 40+ beginning:

Monday, March 29, 2021

and then at age 18+ starting on:

Monday, April 5, 2021

(Read the press release below)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced upcoming eligibility guidelines for COVID-19 vaccinations in Florida on Thursday.

The governor says all Floridians 40 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine next Monday, March 29, and those ages 18 and older will be eligible on the following Monday, April 5.

In a video announcement, DeSantis confirmed that more than 3.2 million seniors have received the vaccine so far in the Sunshine State.

“We’ve now vaccinated over 70% of the roughly 4.4 million seniors living in the state,” he said. “We’ve also made great progress on those age 60 to 64 and on those age 50 and older, and we’re ready to take this step.”

Those who wish to receive the vaccine are encouraged to pre-register at www.myvaccine.fl.gov.

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•Update - March 19, 2021 For All Floridians:

Many more Floridians will be eligible for Covid-19 Vaccinations starting:

Monday, March 22, 2021

(Read the press release below)

For current information about Broward county vaccination locations and appointment scheduling click on this link:

https://www.broward.org/CoronaVirus/Pages/Updates.aspx?=Closings

(Then Click on the "Vaccination Sites" Tab For Location Information)

Press Release:

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday (March 19, 20210) that he will lower the coronavirus vaccine eligibility age to 50 starting Monday (March 22, 2021).

The Republican governor, speaking at a news conference in Tallahassee, said Florida has seen “relatively modest” demand for the vaccine in recent days. He reiterated that vaccinations would likely be expanded to all Floridians 16 and older before May 1.

With this announcement, Florida is making shots available to those who are:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• People aged 50 and older
• Frontline health care workers
• People who are “extremely vulnerable” to the virus who have a state form signed by a physician

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Update - January 29, 2021 For All Floridians:

Florida has inaugurated another tool to help Floridians to "get in line" to receive the Cocid-19 Vaccine. Click on the link:  https://myvaccine.fl.gov/  to go to this newest website. Choose your County.  Follow the instructions, complete the fill-in forms, and then submit  to obtain a place in the queue for Covid-19 vaccine.

Thanks to Mary Stawicki, Auxiliary Unit 142 Secretery and Co-webmaster, for being the first to bring this new link to our website.

Update - January 20, 2021 For Veterans:

Miami VA COVID-19 Vaccination Information 

The Miami VA Healthcare System is holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week for certain patients based on CDC and VHA guidelines. Veterans must receive care in VA and there is no cost to get the vaccine.

Beginning Jan. 20, until Jan. 23, Veterans in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties who are aged 65 years and older and who are active patients of the Miami VA Healthcare System are being offered the COVID-19 vaccine, while supplies allow.

Veterans who receive care at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Flagler St. VA Clinic or Homestead VA Clinic can receive their vaccination at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, located at 1201 NW 16^th St, Miami FL 33125 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.  

Veterans who receive care at the William “Bill” Kling VA Clinic, Hollywood VA Clinic, Pembroke Pines VA Clinic or Deerfield VA Clinic will receive their vaccination at the William “Bill” Kling VA Clinic, located at 9800 W Commercial Blvd, Sunrise FL 33351 between the hours of 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.

Veterans must be enrolled and eligible for VA health care benefits. Veterans must be able to return to the same site for their second dose.

Vaccines will be available for walk-ins or by appointment, as supply allows. Appointments are not required. 

To schedule an appointment, Veterans can call 305.575.7000 or contact their care team.

*As vaccine supply increases, we will notify additional groups of Veterans who are eligible to receive the vaccine at VA. Veterans may also visit https://www.miami.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp for information and updates.

We understand many of our Veteran patients are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. 

VA facilities in Florida are following a phased distribution plan in accordance with CDC and VHA guidelines. During this initial phase of limited supply, our facilities are offering vaccinations to the following categories of Veterans receiving care at VA and will contact them directly to schedule an appointment: 

• VA Outpatients aged 65 and older
• VA Homeless Veterans, Hemodialysis patients, Solid Organ Transplant patients or patients who are listed for transplant, and Chemotherapy patients (any age)
• VA Community Living Center Residents
• VA Spinal Cord Injury Diseases (SCID) Unit Residents
• Congregate Living Residents                     

As additional vaccine becomes available for more groups of Veterans, VA care teams will reach out to eligible Veterans to schedule vaccinations. There is no need to preregister or come to a facility to sign up, although Veterans are encouraged to let their Primary Care Provider know so that they can make a note in the patient’s chart and follow up when vaccine is available to them. Visit VA's COVID-19 vaccine website for more information at https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/.

In summary, Veterans who wish to receive more information or register their interest in receiving a vaccine when it is available have two options:

1. They can speak with their care teams who will note their interest
2. The can visit the VA web page at www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/ and sign up to be contacted

Update for Post 142 Family Members: January 1, 2021:

Two brands of Covid-19 vaccines have made it into Florida!  The Florida State Government is now directing the delivery of the vaccines to Florida Counties who, in turn, will actually administer the vaccines to the population. Due to initially small quantities of vaccine availability, Florida has given priority for the vaccine to healthcare workers and permanent residents of long-term care facilities. Earlier this week, residents 65 years old and older, especially those with medical conditions making them more highly susceptible to the more serious, adverse consequences of the viral disease, have been added to the priority list.

Demand for the vaccine is far outstripping the current availablity of the vaccine supplies, however, including here in Broward County. Administration of the vaccine will be done by appointment.

The Broward Health Department has shared the following:

Broward Health Medical Center: Appointments are currently booked through February! 

Check back at Broward County's online vaccine portal next month for more openings, or call Broward Health's Nurse Connect line at (954) 759-7500 for more information.

Govenor DeSantis and Broward County Health Officials are urging patience while assuring citizens that the administration of the vaccines will occur as rapidly as possible as larger deliveries of the vaccines are received from the manufacturers.

Great News! The first Coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use. Distribution will begin rapidly. The first to receive vaccinations will be high-risk patients in extended care facilities and first-responders serving the public needs. Schedules for the remainder of the population have not yet been announced.

Moderna now joins Pfizer as approved vaccines for administration to the population thus making additional millions of vaccine doses available for the US population beginning in the later part of December. If additional vaccines in development are approved for use, the availability to the general population should be enhanced even more.

Let's all hope that these vaccines will be definitive steps toward the elimination of the pandemic and a beginning of the return to a more normal life!

Places Where Coronavirus Is Spread - So Take Care!

In a recent article, some confirmation of where and how people are being most exposed to the Covid-19 disease is discussed. Knowledge about the Covid-19 virus and the disease it causes is constantly growing, updating, and slowly being more clearly understood. The enhancement of that knowledge is a dynamic process, but this article, from early September 2020, may teach some things not fully appreciated and/or validate individual actions taken to constrain the cause of this devastating pandemic. It's a quick read. Take a look!

Where Are People Catching COVID?

By  Karon Warren