Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will get the “jab,” by which he means the COVID-19 vaccine.

But it remains to be seen whether he will treat the media to a “gun show” for cameras, he quipped Wednesday in Palm Harbor.

The Governor, on hand to announce a teacher/principal bonus scheme to be paid for with federal virus relief funds, also discussed vaccinations. His jab is coming soon, he promised, along with shots for everyone else who might want them. 

“I haven’t had it yet, but I am planning on doing it this week,” the Governor said, noting that he and everyone else over 40 are eligible.

“I’m not sure we’re going to do it on camera. We’ll see. If you guys want a gun show, we can do it, but I think we’re better off not,” DeSantis quipped. 

Beyond the tantalizing prospect of said gun show, slang for showing off muscle-ridden arms, the prognosis for dose delivery likewise is positive, DeSantis said.

Some 300,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a variety extolled by the Governor often at previous stops, will be in Florida Monday or Tuesday. 

The Governor expects the Johnson & Johnson flow to be consistent going forward.

All told, a “pretty significant increase” is coming, despite a downturn in Pfizer shots. Expect more CVS locations and independent pharmacies to come on line as well.

While there will “probably be a little bit of a rush” for the shots early next week, as eligibility expands to those 18 and over, the Governor expects demand to soften by the middle of April.

“We’re going to keep getting more vaccine,” DeSantis said, with “over a million shots, initial shots, landing in Florida next week.”

The Governor expects more vaccine “resistance” among younger cohorts, but access won’t be an issue.

“If you have folks who want it, who haven’t been in those higher age groups up to this point, the time is very near where they’re going to be able to get it with relatively little hassle,” DeSantis said, well ahead of the May 1 target for open vaccinations set by the White House.

“By the time we get to May, my guess is there will probably be a surplus built up, so it will really be about public messaging and letting people know it’s out there,” DeSantis added.

This article first appeared at Florida Politics. 

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This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2021.