Some tips to book a COVID vaccine appointment
Many people want a COVID-19 vaccine. It’s probably one of the most talked about pandemic topics since pandemic bread-making. Vaccination appointments are hard to come by, and the journey to book a slot can be filled with anxiety, hope, frustration, confusion. And while we can’t guarantee you’ll get an appointment, the advice below will likely help increase your chances:
1. Florida recently started a statewide online and phone system to help book appointments for seniors 65 and older, front-line healthcare workers, long-term care facilities and anyone with a health condition that makes them “at risk” of falling seriously ill with the disease. Anyone who preregisters is put on a wait list and will be notified when slots become available at state-run vaccination sites including Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Marlins Park in Miami and Vista View Park in Davie.
Those who don’t qualify for the vaccine yet can subscribe to be notified by email, phone or text when they’re eligible. The system is optional, which means not every county will be using it. Miami-Dade and Broward are on the list and Monroe is expected to be added soon. The new website is myvaccine.fl.gov. You can also pre-register by phone.
For Miami-Dade, the number is 888-499-0840 or TTY 888-256-8918. For Broward County, call 866201-6313 or TTY 844-2522003. For the Florida Keys, call 866-201-7069 or TTY 833-990-2908. For Palm Beach County, call 866-2016754 or TTY 833-476-1532.
To get on Miami-Dade’s wait list, visit miamidade.gov/vaccine or call 305-614-2014.
2. Besides the new centralized systems, there are different appointment hotlines and websites for hospitals and pharmacies like Publix. Save the phone numbers of your preferred locations into your phone’s address book and bookmark the websites. Make a point to check them at different hours because you never know when a slot will open.
3. When booking an appointment online, fill out only what’s required. Speed is key here.
4. If you’re helping a family member or a friend get a slot, make sure you have all the information you need, including date of birth, the correct spelling of the patient’s name, address, phone number and email. This will help speed up the process.
5. Check with your church, synagogue, or mosque to see if they have any plans in the works.
6. Check with your local commissioner’s office to see if there is anything in the works, and if there is, ask how you can get on the wait list or receive updates. Jackson Health last month, for example, gave Miami-Dade County’s 13 commissioners and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office a limited amount of vaccine appointments they could give out. Commissioners had mixed reactions to the idea, so it’s unclear if it will happen again. Miami City Hall has also begun vaccination efforts in the community such as setting up vaccination pods at senior facilities and creating a mobile vaccination program for homebound seniors to be vaccinated. If you live inside Miami city limits, you can find the contact information for your elected official at https://www.miami gov.com/Government/ City-Officials
7. Follow Twitter accounts that post appointment availability in your county and set up notification alerts. In MiamiDade County, for example, two accounts posting updates are Jackson Health System (@JacksonHealth) and Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella).
8. Some Facebook groups like South Florida COVID-19 Vaccination Info also post appointment availability information.
9. Check for appointments in neighboring counties. A Florida resident in Miami-Dade or Monroe, for example, can get the vaccine in Broward County or vice versa.
10. Try incognito mode on your device. According to Slate, one woman used the feature to secure multiple vaccination appointments in New York state. Will it work in Florida? Who knows, but it’s worth a shot.
And finally, even with all these tips, be patient. More vaccination sites are expected to open across Florida.