nursing homes

Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all residents and staff at long-term care facilities by Sunday, but nearly 1,000 facilities have yet to receive vaccines.

According to reports, the chief executive of a West Palm Beach long-term care facility offered COVID-19 vaccinations to board members and donors.

COVID-19 vaccines are reaching more long-term facilities, but many worry they won't come soon enough to stave off more deaths.

Long-term care residents and staff members make up about 38% of the reported 21,212 Florida resident deaths since the pandemic started.

The governor was in The Villages on Tuesday to announce the elderly will come before essential workers.

According to the state’s COVID-19 draft distribution plan,138,588 residents were in nursing homes and assisted living facilities as of Sept. 20.

A federal advisory committee voted to put adults 75 and over and frontline essential workers next in line for COVID-19 vaccines.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also directed 21,450 doses be sent to the Florida Department of Health to help at long-term care facilities.

The state ramped up plans to vaccinate seniors for COVID-19 by publishing two emergency rules that require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to allow representatives from the state health department, CVS and Walgreens into the facilities.

The report was encouraging but tempered by a recent uptick in overall cases. “We must keep our guard up, especially if the virus once again is on the rise this winter,” AAPR's Florida director says.

The state is allowing residents to return to facilities after being screened for COVID-19-like symptoms.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office did not comment on the AARP information. But DeSantis has touted the state’s efforts to keep residents safe at Florida’s 694 nursing homes.