South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
The latest on Florida’s vaccine rollout.
By Amber Randall and David Schutz
The rollout for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida has been marked with confusion, limited appointment spots and delays in distributing the shots. As more doses become available, here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated in South Florida. Be sure to check our vaccine Q&A regularly — we’re answering new reader questions daily.
Who is eligible?
As of Feb. 1, Florida is in phase one of the vaccine rollout. You can get the vaccine if you are:
■ Age 65 or older.
■ A health care staff with direct patient contact.
■ A resident or staff member at a long-term care facility.
■ A hospital determines you are vulnerable to COVID-19 complications.
Next group to be eligible
Florida has not released a schedule, as the state is sill working on getting seniors vaccinated. Florida’s roll-out process is not following the Center for Disease Control recommendations.
Where to get the shot
In Palm Beach County, all 67 Publix pharmacy locations are offering the vaccine by appointment. The next sign-up window for an appointment at Publix is Wednesday, Feb. 10, starting at 7 a.m. The county is not currently accepting new appointments at other locations as of Feb. 3 because of a long existing wait list. Some cities in the county are offering vaccinations through their fire departments. The state opened a temporary vaccination site in Pahokee Feb. 3 to serve Palm Beach county’s western residents.
Making an appointment
The vaccine is only available by appointment. The state set up a website at myvaccine.fl.gov where people can be notified when appointments are available at state-run COVID19 vaccine sites near them. It does not include other sign-up locations such as hospitals or Publix.
Broward County: A phone sign-up system was set up by the county at 866-201-6313. For those requiring TTY access, the phone number is 833-476-1526. Live agents will call people back to make drive-thru appointments until all spots are filled.
Palm Beach County: As of Feb. 3, the county froze an email address it set up for new appointments until the existing wait list shrinks. A new vaccination site will open the week of Feb. 7 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Tips from seniors who got the vaccine
The race to get a vaccination in Florida has been a bumpy road for many, leaving seniors to get creative and find loopholes to get vaccinated. Here are some of the loopholes they found that worked for them.
■ Some seniors have waited at vaccinations sites without an appointment, said they were still waiting confirmation of an appointment and ended up getting vaccinated.
■ Social media sites have sprung up to help seniors. Apps like Nextdoor and Facebook are reportedly filled with tips about shortcuts to getting the vaccine. A Facebook group run by a South Florida senior couple, South Florida COVID-19 Vaccination Info, also offers help to seniors wanting to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you’re from out of state
The vaccine is no longer available to out of state residents, after Floridians expressed frustration about nonresidents getting vaccines before they could. Only nonresidents who got their first dosage in Florida will be able to get their second one here. To receive the vaccine in Florida, you will need documentation proving you are a long-term resident.
Cost of the vaccine
The vaccines are free.
If you’ve previously tested positive
Some say you still need to be vaccinated, some say we don’t have enough information yet, but no one is saying no at this moment. Most health authorities are leaning toward yes, including the Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Health System.
What to expect
■ Be ready to wait: It’s possible you’ll encounter long lines, so plan accordingly. You’ll need to have a photo ID and sign a consent form.
■ After the shot: You’ll be observed for 15 minutes to make sure there are no adverse side effects. After the first dose, you’ll be scheduled for your second dose a few weeks after.
■ Side effects: Minor side effects are expected with most vaccines. For the coronavirus vaccine, they are more common after the second dosage of the vaccine. Recipients can expect fever, chills, tiredness, and headache more commonly, along with pain at the injection site. These symptoms should ease after a few days.
■ Protection against new strains of COVID-19: The new strains of COVID19 are highly infectious and the UK strain might be more lethal, though scientists are researching that possibility. While the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are slightly less effective against the new variants, it looks like they do offer some level of protection.
■ How many vaccines are on the market: In the United States, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available to the public due to emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. There are at least three large scale clinical trials going on in the United States currently for vaccines against the coronavirus. Johnson & Johnson asked US regulators Feb. 4 to approve its one shot COVID19 vaccine, which is about 66 % effective in stopping moderate to severe cases of coronavirus.
After being vaccinated
■ Protection from the virus: For the Pfizer vaccine, the first dosage can give up to 50 percent protection against the virus, with the second dosage boosting that up to about 95% protection. For the Moderna vaccine, studies show that it can provide about 80% protection after the first dose and 95% after the second one. The body’s immune response starts providing protection against the virus about 12 days after getting the first shot, and about a week after getting the second dosage.
■ You still should wear a mask: It’s still advised to wear a mask and social distance after getting the vaccine, as it’s not clear if the vaccine prevents transmission of the virus from person to person. Until the vaccine is proven to prevent transmission, it’s best to still keep your guard and practice the same habits as before: hand-washing, social distancing and mask wearing.
More resources
From t he state: For the latest information on vaccines available to the public, head to the Florida Department of Health.
From the tri county area: Visit the health department websites for Broward County, Miami Dade County and Palm Beach County for more information about vaccines in your county.