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Home My Public Portal About2021-11 Urging Governor Ron Desantis to prioritize the following groups in Phase II of the COVID-19 vaccine administrationRESOLUTION NO. 2021-11 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, URGING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING GROUPS IN PHASE II OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE ADMINISTRATION: TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND OTHER FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AS SPECIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS, CHILD CARE WORKERS, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, MANUFACTURING WORKERS, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WORKERS, AND GROCERY STORE WORKERS, AND PERSONS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19, AS CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 ("COVID-19") is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and continues to pose a public health threat to individuals across the planet; and WHEREAS, the disease has spread globally, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020 Governor Ron Desantis issued Executive Order No. 20- 51, directing the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a public health emergency in the State of Florida and directing the State Health Officer to take any action necessary to protect the public health, including following the guidelines established by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") to control the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Governor Desantis issued Executive Order No. 20-52, declaring a state of emergency for the State of Florida due to COVID-19; and Page 1 of 6 WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Miami -Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez declared a State of Emergency for all of Miami -Dade County due to the threats associated with COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the Village of Key Biscayne (the "Village") Village Manager issued a Declaration of State of Emergency concerning COVID-19 and subsequently issued various emergency orders to mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19 within the Village; and WHEREAS, the United States government, through Operation Warp Speed, has allocated the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines to states, including Florida; and WHEREAS, states have discretion to determine their own vaccine distribution plans, including the priority of vaccine recipients; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2020, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that health care personnel and long-term care facility residents be offered COVID-19 vaccination first; and WHEREAS, on December 20, 2020, the Centers of Disease Control ("CDC") Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that Phase II of COVID- 19 vaccinations should be offered to persons aged 75 years and older, as well as to frontline essential workers, including first responders (e.g. firefighters and police officers), corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, United States Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the education sector (teachers and support staff members) as well as child care workers; and Page 2 of 6 WHEREAS, the CDC defines frontline essential workers as the subset of essential workers likely at highest risk for work -related exposure to COVID-19, because their work- related duties must be performed on -site and involve being in close proximity to the public or to co-workers; and WHEREAS, on December 23, 2020, Governor Ron Desantis issued Executive Order 20- 315 (the "Executive Order"), establishing a priority list of population groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase One of Florida's COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan (the "Vaccine Distribution Plan"), consisting of : long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older, and health care personnel with direct patient contact; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases have continued to rise across Miami -Dade County and across much of Florida; and WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in the United States; and WHEREAS, teachers are among the most important essential workers in the State, educating our youth, providing children with essential skills to compete in the 21st century economy, and enriching and inspiring children; and WHEREAS, earlier access to vaccines for teachers and school staff will increase the likelihood of returning to face-to-face learning, without the roller coaster of opening, closing, and reopening schools, and will promote the safety of school personnel who serve these essential roles; and WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade Police Department is one of the largest police departments in the United States, and through its sworn officers, is integral to ensuring public order and safety; and Page 3 of 6 WHEREAS, as first responders, police officers routinely engage with the public in a variety of settings, including businesses, vehicles, and private residences; and WHEREAS, in operating 72 fire -rescue stations serving unincorporated Miami- Dade County and 29 municipalities, the Miami -Dade Fire Rescue Department and its firefighters are routinely called upon to respond to a variety of emergencies, and in so doing, perform a fundamental service to the community; and WHEREAS, through operation of the County's detention facilities, the Miami -Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department and its corrections officers perform an essential function; and WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade Transportation and Public Works Department and its transit employees provide countywide mass transit services to the public that are essential to the functioning of society; and WHEREAS, childcare workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, United States Postal Service workers, and grocery store workers also serve in sectors essential to the functioning of society and perform in close proximity to the public or to co-workers; and WHEREAS, persons with certain pre-existing health conditions are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19-related illness, potentially resulting in hospitalization or death; and WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and Village Council respectfully urge Florida Governor Desantis to, in light of the current limited supply of vaccines, to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations during the next phase of vaccine administration for police officers, teachers and support staff members, and other frontline essential workers, as specified by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to include firefighters, corrections officers, public transit workers, child care workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, United States Postal Page 4 of 6 Service workers, and grocery store workers, as well as for persons at risk of severe COVID-19 due to an underlying medical condition as certified by a physician. WHEREAS, the Village Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and welfare of the residents of the Village. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. That each of the above -stated recitals are hereby adopted, confirmed, and incorporated herein. Section 2. Approval. That the Village Council hereby urges Governor Ron Desantis to prioritize the following groups in Phase II of the COVID-19 vaccine administration: teachers and support staff members, police officers, and other frontline essential workers, as specified by the United States Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including firefighters, corrections officers, public transit workers, child care workers, food and agricultural workers, manufacturing workers, united states postal service workers, and grocery store workers, and persons with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19, as certified by a physician. Section 3. Transmittal. That the Village Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Ron DeSantis and the County Delegation. Section 4. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED and ADOPTED this 23`d day of February , 2021. MICHAEL W. DAVEY, MAYOR Page 5 of 6 ATTEST: JJOGELYN�$1 KOCH VILLAGE CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE & BIERMAN, P.L. VILLAGE ATTORNEY Page 6 of 6