FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) is partnering with Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 16 years of age or older (Pfizer-BioNTech) or 18 years of age and older (Johnson & Johnson). The vaccine is free for everyone. Appointments are recommended but people may come to any event without an appointment.

Any individual who is not at least 18 years of age by the day of their vaccination appointment must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to the vaccination clinic. Unaccompanied minors cannot be vaccinated and will be turned away from the vaccination clinic.

Appointments are still available for vaccination events on May 11-14 both online and over the phone. Registration for vaccination events May 17-21 will open at 7 a.m. on May 8.

To make an appointment visit https://OkaloosaCOVID19Vax.eventbrite.com to register online via Eventbrite or by calling 850-344-0566.

*Second dose clinic for May 17 event will be at DOH-Okaloosa in Ft. Walton Beach.

COVID-19 infections are here to stay. But DID YOU KNOW? Any person who is fully immunized against COVID-19 will not need to quarantine or be tested after exposure to a known case of COVID-19. People are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

All individuals being vaccinated must show a valid picture ID. Minors can be identified by their parent/guardian, if they do not have a valid picture ID. This can include, but is not limited to, a passport, driver’s license, or military identification card.

A second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is required 21 days after the first dose. Learn more about mRNA vaccines and how they work.

Individuals receiving the vaccine must complete a consent form. This is available on our website. For those that cannot access the forms in advance, a paper copy will be provided at your appointment time.  A consent form is required for each dose of the vaccine.

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 -30 minutes after receiving the vaccine. Individuals will be directed to a waiting area to park or sit and should plan accordingly.  

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. 

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov .