People vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection but younger than 65 can only pre-register

TAMPA, Fla. - Those who are deemed extremely vulnerable to developing a severe infection from COVID-19 can pre-register on the state's vaccination web site, myvaccine.fl.gov.

"There are three or four different conditions out there that do increase your risk according to some of the studies for dying as a result of getting COVID-19, they would include hypertension, cardiovascular disease diabetes, and chronic kidney disease," said Dr. Thomas Unnasch, a public health professor and infectious disease researcher at the University of South Florida.

The only people who can register to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine are those who fall under Governor Ron DeSantis's executive order: people who are 65 and older, frontline healthcare workers, and residents and staff at long-term care facilities.

The state says demand for the vaccine is high but supply is low.

Health experts are optimistic that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be approved by the FDA soon. That will help increase the amount of doses being distributed across the country.