GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Residents are continuing to receive their COVID-19 vaccines – some already getting their second doses – but it’s still not happening as quickly as health and emergency officials would like.

Most of the population can’t get vaccines provided by Moderna and Pfizer since there’s an order of disbursement based on the governor’s office and state department of health.

“It is set for 65 and up, and frontline medical workers,” said John Ward, Clay County Director of Emergency Management. “So that’s who we’ve been prioritizing per the Governor’s order currently at our distribution sites.”

At this time, the staffing and low number of available doses limits the vaccination locations.

“It’s the Godbold building there at the Clay County Agricultural center, and it is open Monday through Friday, 9 [a.m.] to 4 [p.m.],” said Ward.

Hospitals were the first to receive the vaccine, but they were for the express purpose of inoculating their front-line medical workers.

Orange Park Medical Center started issuing a second round of Moderna inoculations last week. Ascension St. Vincent’s provided 2,500 free shots a week ago at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

“Orange Park Medical Center has vaccinated approximately 2,500 employees, physicians and community health care workers over the past month. In the coming weeks the hospital will provide another 2,500 second doses that will complete the two-dose regimen. We are pleased to be doing our part to help protect healthcare workers on the front lines across our community. Due to supply, Orange Park Medical Center is not vaccinating the general public or providing additional first dose vaccines at this time,” said Dr. Brad Shumaker, OPMC’s chief medical officer.

The county received 5,750 doses during the past four months. They are expected to receive another 1,900 doses in the next few days.

Clay County has about 35,000 residents who are ages 65 and older and approximately 5,000 front-line medical workers. People from other parts of the state are making appointments and coming to Clay County to receive the vaccination. They can’t be turned away if they meet the criteria.

After the 65 and older and front-line medical worker group vaccinations have been completed, the next group to receive it is slated to be personnel with underlying medical conditions. Examples of those are asthmatics, diabetics and those suffering with COPD.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said this week about 22% of the state’s elderly have received their vaccinations. He also said by Feb. 1, the vaccine will have been offered to every staff member and resident at nearly 700 nursing homes and more than 3,000 assisted living facilities in the state.

Once the first two phases of the vaccination plan has been completed, everyone else should be able to receive the vaccine. By that time – estimated to be mid-summer – the availability of the vaccine should increase, as should locations for distribution.

“We’re seeing Publix, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, those type of things come online, so it’ll be in more places, more opportunities for our citizens to go out and get,” Ward said. “And then the goal would be, just like the flu shot, any doc-in-the-box, any primary care, those type things, would have it in order for our residents to go get it.”