By: Bella Lee

On June 19, after experiencing pressure to order COVID-19 shots from the U.S. government and medical practitioners, Florida very reluctantly allowed pediatricians to order vaccines for its youngest children. The move allowed all families to get their shots from their doctors’ offices. Up to that point, Florida was the only U.S. state who delayed their order of COVID-19 shots.

It was known that kids under the age of five were hospitalized with COVID-19, and many died. This happened in other states too. The FDA had approved of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines shortly before the first wave of shots was delivered on Friday.

Florida, however, also missed the second wave of vaccine deliveries. The newspaper said that it is scheduled to be this week. Bryan Griffin, a deputy press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, said, “We have always maintained the position that the state of Florida has chosen not to be involved in the preordering or distribution of the vaccine for children under 5.”He also added how Florida did not recommend shots for healthy kids.

The pharmacies in the federal COVID-19 shot program are permitted to order doses, unlike doctors.

Despite permitting pediatricians and children’s hospitals to get their vaccines for young children, Florida still doesn’t offer shots for kids under five years old through the local health departments.