Okaloosa COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination schedule for Jan. 11-15

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) is partnering with Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services and local fire departments to begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment only to adults ages 65 and older and non-hospital health care workers with direct patient contact.

Monday, January 11
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Crestview Community Center
1446 Commerce Dr.
Crestview, FL

Tuesday, January 12
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
DOH-Okaloosa Fort Walton Beach
221 Hospital Dr. NE
Fort Walton Beach, FL

Wednesday, January 13
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center
1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL

COVID-19 vaccination appointments in Okaloosa filled for next week

Appointments are required for this vaccination clinic and will not be scheduled on-site. Do not arrive at the vaccination site without an appointment. Anyone born in January 1956 or earlier and non-hospital health care workers with direct patient contact are eligible for a vaccine appointment.

Appointments must be made in advance. To make an appointment visit myokaloosa.com/bcc/covid-19 to register online or by calling 850-344-0566. We encourage people to register online. Please note callers may experience delays, dropped calls and busy signals due to high call volume.

Registration will open at noon on Thursday, January 7 both online and for scheduling over the phone. These slots fill up quickly but as more vaccine is made available there will be additional vaccination clinics. Please do not call to schedule an appointment before this time. Appointments are unable to be made through email.

An update will be issued once vaccination slots have been filled. As vaccination events and details are finalized, DOH – Okaloosa will release more information on vaccination events.

Individuals receiving the vaccine must complete a vaccine screening and consent form to confirm eligibility. These are available on the DOH-Okaloosa website. For those that cannot access the forms in advance, a paper copy will be provided at your appointment time.  A valid government-issued ID must be shown at the vaccination site. This can include a passport, driver’s license or military identification card. Non-hospital health care workers with direct patient contact are required to show their badge. People will also need to bring their registration confirmation number.

The appointment-only vaccination clinic will be drive-thru only, and all individuals will remain in their vehicle for the duration of the clinic. Individuals receiving the vaccine are asked to wear short-sleeve shirts and remove any jackets/coats when arriving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises individuals to be monitored for at least 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine. Individuals will be directed to a waiting area to park and should plan accordingly.

The vaccination provided will be the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for Monday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 13. A second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is required 28 days after the first dose. This dose will be scheduled at the first dose appointment. This vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the United States Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization.

The vaccination provided on Tuesday, January 12 will be the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. A second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is required 21 days after the first dose. This dose will be scheduled at the first dose appointment. This vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the United States Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization.

According to data released by the Food and Drug Administration, the vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer- BioNTech are highly protective for adults and prevents severe cases of COVID-19.  The COVID-19 vaccine is a monumental step toward getting this disease under control in Florida, but the department is still encouraging residents and visitors to take precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus. These include frequent hand washing, wearing face masks, maintaining six feet of social distancing, and staying home if you are feeling sick.

Updates will be added to DOH-Okaloosa website, www.HealthyOkaloosa.com. Information about the statewide vaccination distribution plan can be found on the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage.