TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The race to refill vaccine supplies continues across Florida. Right now, the state said it is receiving about 300,000 vaccines a week. State leaders said it's time to bring those numbers up.
Florida Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz oversees vaccine distribution in the state. He said it's time for companies to fight the pandemic together and create more vaccines.
"Putting seniors first and not resting until every senior that wants to get a vaccine is able to get a vaccine," said Governor Ron DeSantis.
Governor Ron DeSantis' message has remained the same since the vaccine rollout began in December - getting shots into the arms of every frontline worker and senior who wants it. So far, more than 1.7 million people have received either one or both doses. Seniors over 65 make up 75 percent of those vaccinated.
DeSantis said the best way to raise these numbers is to get more doses.
"Our ability to vaccinate seniors can increase dramatically just based on additional supply," said DeSantis. "We hope we continue to see increased supply. I think that there's a lot of capacity with hospitals who are you know, we're they're there, they're now getting some more vaccine."
On Monday, Florida EMA Director Jared Moskowitz tweeted, "Time to bring every major pharmaceutical company to the table to produce the @pfizer and @moderna_tx vaccine. Florida could have done 500,000 more shots this week if we had more vaccine. Where is the war time effort?"
District 9 Florida House Representative Allison Tant, who covers Leon County agrees.
"That's the single biggest holdout for us: not having enough product," said Tant. "There's a huge demand."
Tant said, without a team effort, it's not going to get done.
"I would love to see all manufacturers join together like in the War Powers Act to work on the same formula, get the same formula out," said Tant. "I think that would be the best for all Americans, for my state and for my district."
In Leon County, the rollout is steady but more than 5,800 people are still on the waitlist for a vaccine.
