Governor announces new vaccine pod in South Florida Community

Event comes hours after governor announces new coronavirus relief program

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks Feb. 1, 2021, at a news conference at The Villages. (WPLG)

PAHOKEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new vaccine pod in Palm Beach County Wednesday afternoon.

The event was held at Anquan Boldin Stadium in Pahokee.

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The need for a vaccine pod in this community was brought to the governor’s attention by Boldin himself, according to the governor.

Boldin, a Pahokee native, reached out to the Secretary of the Florida Lottery, John Davis, to discuss the need in the community. Davis, also from Pahokee, then worked with the former pro-football player to address the issue with the DeSantis.

“He cares about this community in particular,” DeSantis said about Boldin. “And to see that and to see someone that came from a small Florida town to do so many great things, but all the great things on the football field is just really the tip of the iceberg from the lives he’s been able to influence and affect in a positive way.”

The vaccine site is set to provide 500 vaccines for people 65 and older in the Pahokee area.

DeSantis also addressed the audit of the Palm Beach County Health District after 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were reported damaged last week.

“I think it’s 100% appropriate to do,” DeSantis said. We know that there are certain storage requirements with these. Obviously, the Pfizer has more stringent storage requirements, but the Madonna also has certain requirements, and people are very conscious about that by and large. So I think, I think we need to get answers on that.”

The news briefing comes the same day the governor announced $92 million available to local governments through Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Relief Program.

According to the governor’s office, those funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

“As Florida communities continue responding to and recovering from the pandemic, this funding will provide local governments and their communities with vital support,” DeSantis said in a release.

The program funds will be awarded for eligible activities approved by the DEO. Eligible activities include acquisition of public property for public works facilities and sites; public improvements; business and microenterprise assistance; public services; project planning; and, broadband planning and public infrastructure.

More information on the program can be found here.


About the Author:

Thomas Mates is a digital storyteller for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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