Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa urge prioritization of COVID vaccines for teachers, law enforcement and other frontline workers
MIAMI-DADE – District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins and District 6 Commissioner Rebeca Sosa introduced a piece of legislation aimed at overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, by ramping up protection for some of the community’s most high-risk groups. The resolution urges Governor Ron DeSantis to prioritize distribution of the COVID vaccine to frontline workers, including police and corrections officers. The resolution also supports Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ efforts to urge the Governor to prioritize teachers and other school personnel, which would reduce the number of quarantines to keep schools open and stable – critical for working parents.
“The Governor declared teachers, law enforcement and other frontline workers as ‘essential’ during the entire course of this pandemic,” said Commissioner Cohen Higgins. “It is now essential that we provide those same individuals with the greatest protection possible, as soon as possible. Not only is it the right thing to do; it is also a consistent approach and will help revive Miami-Dade's local economy.”
The resolution also requests the Governor prioritize those with demonstrable pre-existing conditions in the next wave of vaccine distribution.
“As we encourage our senior population to get vaccinated, we must advocate on behalf of our residents with underlying conditions who are in the high-risk category for COVID-19,” said Commissioner Sosa. “It is an honor to join Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins as a co-prime sponsor on this piece of legislation to prioritize the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents.”
The item is scheduled to be voted upon by the Board of County Commissioners on January 20, 2021.