Ascension Sacred Heart plans to open two community clinics on Wednesday in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County that will provide COVID-19 vaccinations to local residents who are age 65 and older. Both clinics are being organized in coordination with the Florida Department of Health and county officials.
In Escambia County, the first series of clinics in January will take place in the gym of Olive Baptist Church, 1836 E. Olive Road from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In Santa Rosa County, the vaccination clinic will be located in the basketball gym of Milton Community Center, 5329 Byrom St., Milton.
The vaccinations must be scheduled in advance. Persons without an appointment will not be eligible to get the vaccine. Ascension Sacred Heart is creating an online scheduling option and more information will be announced as soon as the scheduling system is active.
Because of the limited amount of vaccines available, it will likely be months before the state is able to successfully vaccinate all the individuals in priority categories. There are almost five million people in Florida who are 65 and older. As Inweekly reported earlier today, Escambia County has more than 54,000 people in that age group.
“Our hospitals are continuing to provide clinically excellent, safe, compassionate care for every patient and loved one whether for COVID-19 or for any other health condition and need,” said Tom Van Osdol, president and CEO of Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast.
“At the same time, we are working hard to vaccinate our own hospital employees, physicians, community health care workers and those aged 65 and older throughout our communities, in accordance with Governor DeSantis’ executive order,” said Osdol. “We are blessed that we have the resources of our Ascension Medical Group to assist the two local counties in vaccinating and helping to protect our senior citizens and those most potentially at-risk against COVID-19.”