Southwest Florida residents age 16 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine this Saturday through Lee Health.

The health care provider announced Thursday they are currently taking appointments online for vaccinations to be administered at Gulf Coast Medical Center on Saturday.

“In an effort to increase availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Southwest Florida community, Lee Health is offering appointments this Saturday to anyone over the age of 16. The clinic’s regular days of operation are Tuesday through Friday,” officials said in a release.

Individuals do not need to be a patient of Lee Health to schedule an appointment. Lee Health is currently offering the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines for those 18 and older.

“Through the online scheduling system, you will be able to select which vaccine you would like to receive, if both are available,” the release states. “The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is approved for use in those 16 years-old and above is being offered to 16 and 17 year-olds.”

Appointments can be made by visiting www.leehealth.org. A parent or authorized guardian must accompany a minor for vaccination.

“Based on community interest, Lee Health may begin offering additional appointments on Saturdays,” officials said. “Anyone who comes this Saturday to receive their COVID-19 vaccine will be able to come on a Saturday for their second shot.”

All self-scheduling appointments must be made online. Lee Health asks that individuals not call their hospitals or physician offices to inquire about vaccine appointments, as it overwhelms their phone system and keeps others from reaching Lee Health for their care. A mask is required to enter any Lee Health facility.

Gulf Coast Medical Center is at 13681 Doctors Way in Fort Myers.

By the Numbers

As of Thursday afternoon, there are 2,258,433 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Florida, an increase of 4,504 since FDOH’s last update Wednesday.

Test results reported to the Department of Health on Wednesday, May 5 resulted in a 4.99% positivity rate among 112,506 tests.

The state saw its highest daily percentage of positive patients on Dec. 29 when 22.75% percent of tests reported were positive among 62,303 tests.

The average positivity rate in new cases over the last week is 5.65% (6.39% last week).

Of those testing positive, 91,652 Florida residents have been hospitalized at some point during their illness according to the state.

The death toll increased by 73 from Wednesday’s report, bringing the total number of deaths, both resident and non-resident, to 36,257.

According to the state, hospitalizations in Lee County make up 3% of all positive cases. At the state level, 4% of all positive cases result in hospitalization. The percentage of deaths statewide account for 2% of all cases and, in Lee County, stand at 1% of positive cases.

The total number of persons vaccinated as of Thursday throughout Florida was 9,101,152 with 331,010 being in Lee County. According to the state, 6,663,786 individuals have had their vaccine series completed, 249,670 of those being in Lee County.

In Lee County, 70,519 individuals (+179) have tested positive as of Thursday’s update.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 103-year-old. Lee County saw its first two cases on March 7, when a man and a woman, each 77, tested positive. They had traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been 973 deaths in Lee County — an increase of three from Wednesday’s report.

As of Thursday afternoon, Lee Health had 95 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals, including 10 new admissions and 10 discharges since Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Lee Health had a 13.5% positivity rate on COVID-19 tests processed through Lee Health Labs. This represents Lee Health results only, not Lee County as a whole. Hospital positivity rates tend to be higher as the tests are performed on patients seeking treatment for a health issue, not the general public that includes asymptomatic individuals.

A total of 6,031 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Lee Health facilities since the beginning of the pandemic.

Census as of Thursday afternoon was at 91% of staffed operational bed capacity, with 7.1% of those being COVID-19 patients. Staffed operational capacity reflects the number of beds for which the hospital has adequate staffing, not the total number of beds within Lee Health hospitals. Overall bed capacity fluctuates hour to hour as the system discharges patients throughout the day who are ready to go home.

As of Thursday, 72% of ventilators and 15% of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

As of Thursday, there were 10 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 19 in the intensive care unit.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral disease. For most individuals, symptoms are mild. For a minority, the disease becomes a type of viral pneumonia with severe complications. Especially at risk are those who are older, those with underlying health conditions and the immune-compromised.

Officials strongly urge all members of the public who are at risk to remain at home so as to limit exposure. All others are urged to observe social distancing and to wear a mask for all public interactions.

For more detail on Florida resident cases, visit the live DOH Dashboard.

To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, visit the travel advisory website.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.