Boca Grande hits major COVID-19 milestone: Vaccine update
SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC – A monumental milestone has been reached in our Island’s fight against COVID-19 as the Boca Grande Health Clinic has now vaccinated more than 3,100 patients and members of the Island community with their first and/or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. “We’ve come a long way in protecting the health of Boca Grande,” said Mark Driscoll, Boca Grande Health Clinic CEO.
In early January, a very limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine was received, and the Clinic began efforts to meet on-island demand in earnest. “The goal was to vaccinate everyone on the Island that expressed interest as quickly as we were able to and within the limitations of available supply,” said Driscoll.
Following state guidelines, the Clinic used a medically focused and age stratified vaccine allocation system, weighing age and risk factors, to schedule vaccination appointments for those who expressed interest – beginning with the most vulnerable patients. As more vaccine became available, the Clinic opened appointments to eligible employees of local businesses that took the BG pledge, and eventually Florida residents 18 years of age and older. The Clinic followed a COVID-19 vaccination process that is similar to its drive-through flu shots and COVID-19 testing clinics.
Driscoll noted that throughout the entire pandemic and continuing through the administering of COVID-19 vaccinations, there’s been no staff member who contracted COVID-19, crediting the clinical team’s constant attention to quality and safety. “I want to thank our staff and volunteers for their tireless dedication in these extraordinary times,” he said.
If you meet state requirements and are still in need of COVID-19 vaccination, please contact the Clinic at 964-2276. Summer hours are 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
