PAHOKEE -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the Anquan Boldin Stadium in Pahokee on Feb. 3 to announce a vaccine pod for those age 65 and older in the Glades.

The mayors of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay had complained to the governor last week because the vaccine was only available in Palm Beach County through Publix pharmacies, and while this was convenient for most people in the coastal areas of the county, there are no Publix supermarkets in Belle Glade, Pahokee or South Bay.

Anquan Boldin, a former NFL wide receiver who was born in Pahokee, joined the governor at the press conference.  "There's a lot of people who made this day happen," said Boldin. "At times we feel like out in the Glades we are forgotten.

"This is home," he said. "It's my job to make sure the people in the Glades are taken care of."

"Being from Pahokee, born and raised here, when the opportunity to help presents itself I will," said Florida Lottery Secretary John Davis. who is also from the Glades and played football for Florida State University. "I am fortunate to be part of the governor's team."

He said he and Boldin talked about the problem, and within 48 hours, the governor said, "make it happen."

"We have 4.5 million people age 65 and up in the State of Florida," said the governor. "Our policy will continue to be seniors first." He said hospitals can vaccinate anyone who is highly vulnerable to COVID-19, regardless of their age. DeSantis said he will trust the hospitals to make those decisions.

Another 500 doses of the vaccine will be administered in Belle Glade on Friday.

From Dec 29, 2020 to Jan 19 2021 the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County received over 200,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointment requests. The Health Care District of Palm Beach County has been working through this list and is contacting people directly.