The age of eligibility for vaccines administered at the Orange County Convention Center will be lowered to 40 years old and up starting Monday, Orange County leaders said Thursday.
Starting Monday, People 40 and Up Can Get COVID Vaccinations at Convention Center
The state of Florida is not opening up vaccinations to younger groups quickly enough, and the convention center site was not reaching capacity and could handle more, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.
“The variants are developing in our community because we’re such an open community, so it’s coming in,” Demings said. “So we better get about our business of getting people vaccinated.”
Demings said he’s not taking action to defy Governor Ron DeSantis or the state of Florida. He said he only is trying to do what he feels is best for the county.
“I don’t feel like I have to get permission to be the mayor of Orange County from Tallahassee,” Demings said. “We’re gonna make the best decisions for our community here, using our resources.”
Resident Nora Escobar said she was “surprised” and “happy” to learn of the division.
The state has slowly lowered the age restriction on vaccines, and its guidelines call for residents to be at least 60 years old.
