COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need To Know Now!
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you and those around you, and it’s critical to helping us safely return to normal activities with friends and family.

Why are COVID-19 Vaccines Important?

COVID-19 has significantly impacted every community in our state. Nearly all families have felt the impacts of this unprecedented health crisis—particularly minority communities.

• The COVID-19 vaccines are critical in helping us overcome the pandemic. It’s the best and fastest way for us to safely get back to life and activities with family, friends and loved ones.
• It’s very important that as many people as possible are vaccinated throughout the state
  to help protect our families and communities.
• Broward County is committed to helping ensure our community is able to receive the vaccine quickly and conveniently as it becomes more readily
  available.

Why is the vaccine so important to you and those around you?

• The vaccine protects not only you, but those around you. All the more reason to get vaccinated.
• If you get COVID-19, you may not get sick, but you could pass it along to a family member, neighbor or friend who could get seriously sick or have long-term health issues due to the disease.
• Those who have health conditions like asthma, COPD or other lung diseases, heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes, severe obesity, a weakened immune system or cancer can have much worse outcomes if they get COVID-19.
• COVID-19 is also worse in minorities, who are more likely to have to go to the hospital when infected.

 Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?

• It’s important to get the facts and be able to recognize the myths.

                  COVID-19 Vaccine Myth vs. Fact Flyer

                  COVID-19 Vaccine Myth vs. Fact Flyer (Spanish)

• Safety is a top priority for the vaccines. They have been developed using strict guidelines from the FDA and were thoroughly reviewed for safety and effectiveness before receiving for emergency use authorization.
• It’s important to know that the research on the COVID-19 vaccines included people of different ages, races and ethnicities, and people with different medical conditions like diabetes.
• The vaccines authorized were tested in a diverse group of people. About 30% of U.S. clinical trial participants were Hispanic, Black, Asian or Native American. About half were older adults. There were no significant safety concerns identified in these or any other groups.
• You can’t catch COVID-19 from the vaccine.
• The vaccine does not affect your DNA.

 Is there a fee/cost for the COVID-19 Vaccine?

• No, there is no charge anywhere in Florida to obtain a vaccine. No matter where you get the vaccine, whether from a state site, a church or a retail pharmacy like CVS or Publix, there is no charge.

• Per Governor Ron DeSantis, effective April 5th, all Florida residents 16 years and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.
• To check availability and schedule an appointment with local pharmacies and retail stores, please visit:
  – CVS: Cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine (Pfizer)
  – Publix: Publix.com/covid-vaccine/florida (Moderna or Johnson & Johnson)
  – Winn Dixie: Winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine (Moderna or Johnson & Johnson)
  – Walmart and Sam’s Club: Walmart.com/COVIDvaccine or Samsclub.com/covid (Moderna)
• Homebound Residents: May request a vaccination at their residence by sending an email to homeboundvaccine@em.myflorida.com
• The Florida Department of Health in Broward is working with partners to expand vaccination sites.

• Eligible individuals can get the COVID-19 vaccine at these locations:

  Florida Retail Pharmacies – there are more than 800 retail pharmacies in Florida scheduling vaccine appointments for eligible individuals. Explore these sites using the state’s Vaccine Locator.
  Hospitals are administering COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers with direct patient contact, including health care workers in their communities, as well as persons 65 years of age and older and hospital providers may vaccinate persons who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
         –  Find hospitals administering COVID-19 vaccine.
  County Health Departments are administering COVID-19 vaccine to persons 65 years of age and older.
         – County Health Departments may require you to register for an appointment. Please check your County Health Department or county government’s             website for more information. County Health Department contact information can be found at FloridaHealth.gov under “Contact Florida Health,                   Local Health Offices”.