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Commissioner’s Message

OVID 19 has spread mass fear, taking lives, causing isolation, destroying our
businesses, and paralyzing our children’s growth and academic gains. This is
C why I will get vaccinated as soon as possible and I urge you to also get
vaccinated. We need to protect our vulnerable neighbors, rebuild our businesses, get
back to work, and get students back to school in a healthy, interactive environment.
In December, I was invited to the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit in
Washington D.C. alongside doctors, scientists, industry executives, and other state
and local leaders. After attending, I am now even more hopeful about 2021.
I am confident in the science behind the vaccines and I am confident that the
Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA was only given after evaluating the
safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
Current projections are that 20 million have been vaccinated by the end of the year,
with another 30 million distributed in January, 50 million in February, and everyone
vaccinated by June 2021. At the summit, President Trump signed an executive order
directing the Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize vaccine doses
Heather Moraitis
District 1 Commissioner for Americans first.
City of Fort Lauderdale
hmoraitis@fortlauderdale.gov President Trump, Vice President Pence, Governor DeSantis and the entire Operation
Warp Speed team briefed local elected officials around the country about the
vaccination plan that began as soon as COVID 19 was discovered. The federal
government invested 14 billion to accelerate vaccine development and to
manufacture all of the top vaccine candidates in advance. Partnerships with private
companies allowed for multiple pathways forward to be developed simultaneously
at a breakneck speed. As a result, Pfizer and Moderna have produced vaccines that
City Hall, 8th Floor are approximately 95 percent effective, and Johnson and Johnson along with three
100 N Andrews Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 other companies are not far behind.
Of course, what good is having a vaccine unless it gets used? Thankfully, The Trump
Administration has worked extensively and collaboratively with UPS, FedEx, CVS,
and Walgreens to ship and administer vaccines at an unprecedented pace. Help is
on the way, and soon we will need to do our part by getting the vaccine ourselves.
Each state will decide who receives the vaccine first. Typically this will include the
elderly, patients with underlying conditions, hospital staff, first responders, and those
who work with seniors. Here in Florida, I am pushing to see our brave firemen and
Office Contact women included on that list.
Melissa Coningsby
District 1 Commission Assistant The federal and state governments have a plan in place, and now it is up to us at
mconingsby@fortlauderdale.gov the local level to implement that plan. I am ready and committed to do that here in
954.828.5033 Fort Lauderdale. By working together, we will save lives, improve our health and
well-being, and rebuild our economy.
As President Trump stated at the Summit, “Every American who wants the vaccine
will be able to get the vaccine.” And I am calling on our neighbors to get the
vaccine when it becomes available. Remember, a vaccine only works if we are
vaccinated. I want this vaccine to work for all of us.
Sincerely,
Heather Moraitis
CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE
District I Commissioner

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