TAMPA, Fla. — For weeks, Tampa residents looking for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have been able to use the federal site at Tampa's Greyhound Track, with no appointments necessary.

After changes to vaccine doses available, that will continue despite a plan to discontinue first doses at federal sites.

The state determined previously unused first doses of the vaccine could be redistributed, so federal sites are expected to continue first doses until April 7.

With no appointment required at the Greyhound track, all residents need is an ID to prove eligibility. The site is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 755 E. Waters Avenue and is offering the Pfizer shot. 

Satellite sites tied to the four federal hubs in Florida will begin second doses today, with the federal hub sites transitioning to only second doses of the vaccine in the next three weeks.

In the final two weeks of April, the state says it will be using Johnson & Johnson one-shot does in an effort to speed the vaccination process.

At the same time, federal sites will begin shutting down, as they were only opened to supplement state sites for eight weeks.

Vaccine Distribution List Will Go To More People In Next Few Months

Gov. Ron DeSantis is promising vaccine availability for all Floridians well before May 1st.

"I think our next move will most likely be to just say anyone that qualifies under the EUA, so the 16 or 18 and up depending on the shot, we probably can just open it up to everybody", Governor Ron Desantis said.   "So I can't tell you when exactly that will happen but I can tell you it will definitely happen before May 1st, that's not even a question."