State surgeon general Scott Rivkees addresses the media during a news conference on the Coronavirus outbreak on March 2, 2020.
TALLAHASSEE - With frustrations mounting amid a constrained supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Florida’s top public-health official urged hospital executives on Tuesday to turn to county health departments if they need to vaccinate newly hired staff members and patients.
During a statewide phone call, Department of Health Secretary Scott Rivkees told hospitals they cannot use “second dose” vaccine supplies to give initial vaccinations to more people. Rivkees remarks came as Gov. Ron DeSantis makes vaccinating people ages 65 and older his top priority.