Vaccines limited to state residents

After complaints about tourists getting shots, Florida restricts access

COVID vaccines will be limited to Florida residents under a state advisory issued Thursday, after complaints that people from Canada, Argentina and other countries were getting the scarce shots.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued a two-page advisory that restricts vaccinations to those who could prove Florida residency. The advisory makes an exception for out-of-state healthcare providers who are in Florida and have contact with patients.

The advisory came after reports that out-of-state and out-of-country people were taking advantage of Florida’s policy of providing shots to anyone aged 65 or older. In many countries, vaccines are still limited to people such as nursing home residents and medical professionals.

A total of 40,965 out-of-state residents have received COVID shots in Florida, according to the daily vaccine report from the Florida Department of Health. The report did not say how many of these came from within the United States. Nearly 1.2 million people in Florida have been vaccinated for the disease.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he has no problem with part-time Florida

residents getting the vaccine but opposes “vaccine tourism” in which people fly in from out of state or overseas to take advantage of Florida’s policy on vaccine availability.

“The COVID-19 vaccine remains scarce within the United States and vaccine availability in Florida is extremely limited,” the advisory from the surgeon general said.

The advisory requires health care providers to obtain proof-of-residency from people seeking the vaccine. Before this, many had just required proof of age.

The residency proof required would allow parttime Florida residents to qualify as residents, which means snowbirds from Canada and the northern United States would still qualify.

Among the acceptable forms of proof are a property deed, lease, Florida driver’s license, utility bill and mail from a financial institution.

Also acceptable is proof of residency from a parent, guardian or associated person, along with a statement from that person that the person seeking the vaccine is a seasonal resident.

Jackson Health System, the Miami-based hospital network that’s a major vaccine provider, said it has revised its residency requirements to comply with the state advisory.

“Our focus remains on preventing the spread of COVID-19 by vaccinating as many people who live in our community, and at the same time not create roadblocks to those who have limited access to extensive documentation,” Jackson said in a statement Thursday.

But the new requirements do not apply to people who have already had their first shot at Jackson and still need a second shot. “Those appointments will be honored,” Jackson said.