Florida: 16, 17-year-old teens eligible for Pfizer vaccine April 5

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FILE – In this Nov. 9, 2020, file photo, pedestrians walk past Pfizer world headquarters in New York. A U.S. government advisory panel convened on Thursday, Dec. 10, to decide whether to endorse mass use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to help conquer the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Florida Division of Emergency management announced Friday teenagers ages 16 and 17 will be eligible to sign up for the coronavirus vaccine April 5, but there are some limitations for them: Only the Pfizer vaccine will be approved for that age group come April.

Parents we spoke to were not concerned about this clause. They say they will take whichever shot their child can get.

“I mean I’d rather have it than not have it,” Tom Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson can’t wait for his 16-year-old to be vaccinated.

“I think they should all get vaccines; otherwise, this pandemic will continue on,” Tomlinson said. “And being the young guy, he could walk a lot and not even know he has it. So I think it’s just safe for everyone to get the vaccine and move forward.”

Barbara Moreland got her two Pfizer shots not too long ago. She’s hopeful, with a vaccine, her teenager can get back to their social interaction and return to normal life.

“They are teenagers,”” Moreland said. “They have had a really hard year and being teenagers, and it’s been very difficult. I can’t imagine the restrictions when I was a teenager.”

Pfizer vaccine availability in SWFL

We typed in a few zip codes on VaccineFinder.org and expanded my search to 50 miles. Out of 100 pharmacies, a dozen had Pfizer in stock.

Moreland says that’s OK because at least her teen will be eligible.

“They are masking up,” Moreland said. “They are taking precautions. They are social distancing. I think it’s OK. When the time is right, then, they will get a vaccine, and it’ll be good.”

It remains unclear if 16 and 17-year-old teens need to do anything else besides make an appointment when they’re eligible.

Florida Division of Emergency management says the state will release more information once it’s available.

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