TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked for patience from anxious seniors waiting their turn to be inoculated against COVID-19, as confusion and frustration over the availability of the vaccine saves lives among some of the most states. vulnerable.
At vaccination sites across the state, seniors formed long queues – some camped out at night with lawn chairs and blankets – in hopes of gaining immunity to fight the virus. Before the sun had risen Wednesday morning, the supply of Southwest Florida County vaccines for the day was already accounted for, prompting officials to reject anyone else who arrived.
Older people in other parts of the state were frustrated by busy phone lines and websites that would stop posting new vaccination appointments.
DeSantis has prioritized Floridians over the age of 65 to be next on the state’s vaccine list, now that most health care workers and other first responders are protected from the virus that has infected more than 1.2 millions of Floridians.
On Wednesday, health workers reported 13,871 new cases and 139 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 21,857.
More than 82 percent of people who have died from the disease have been over the age of 65, underscoring the urgency of getting vaccinated against older florists, the governor said Wednesday.
“The supply of COVID-19 vaccine is still limited. We don’t have enough vaccines available right now for more than four million seniors in the state of Florida, “the governor said at a news conference in Delray Beach.” We’ll get there, but it won’t be over. on the other hand. So please be patient. “
Amid uncertainty about how quickly the state can acquire more doses of two vaccines now available, county health departments and hospitals across the state are working to deliver the vaccine to seniors.
Lin Humphrey, a college professor whose 81-year-old mother lives with him in a high-rise apartment in Miami, said it cost him about 80 calls to call someone at a Miami Beach hospital that began inoculating people. large last week with limited doses of vaccines.
“It reminded me of the eighties when you had to call a radio station to be the tenth to call to get tickets for the concert,” Humphrey said. “When I finally passed, I cried on the phone with the woman.”
Wednesday morning, health officials at Lee County, home of Fort Myers, announced that all three vaccination sites had reached capacity on their third day to provide injections to residents 65 and older. People had lined up outside a library, a recreation center and a theater to snatch one of the few hundred doses available after health authorities said no appointment was required, as they would be administered. in order of arrival, first of service.
Orlando Sentinel reported that state health officials in Orange County closed their online portal on Tuesday after generating 30,000 appointments in about 24 hours. And the Broward Health hospital network said it would stop scheduling vaccine appointments the same day they started “because of overwhelming community demand.”
Abdulla Benkhatar, 90, was at the head of the line Tuesday morning at a Fort Myers recreation center.
“We have been at home for almost ten months. It’s very important for me, for my health and to be able to do the things I like to do and get back to normal, ”he told WZVN-TV.
As of Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health said it had administered doses to approximately 175,465 in the state, most of them health workers, emergency responders and residents of assisted living centers.
Some seniors began receiving shots Monday in the first eight counties that received the vaccine last week. The other 59 counties in the state are expected to start receiving their share of vaccines soon.
In Miami, Jackson Health System began administering vaccines to those age 65 and older who receive care online. Music producer Emilio Estefan, 67, and Miami Dolphins senior vice president Nat Moore, 69, received the first dose of the vaccine Wednesday before reporters at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Jackson Health said it will launch an online platform next week for residents to book appointments to get the shot.
Counties and hospitals have taken different approaches to administering the vaccine, causing confusion, frustration and lines.
“They’re going to work out the problems, as they have been,” the governor said. “If you are 65 or older, you will have access to it. It may not be today for everyone, it may not be next week. But over the next few weeks, as long as we continue to get the supply, you will have a chance to get it. “
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said she wrote to DeSantis recommending that she mobilize the Florida National Guard to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, arguing that the launch has been too slow.
“Although the state has received 1,218,300 doses of vaccine, only 15% has been administered,” he said in the letter. “The lack of preparedness and advances in the administration of these critical life-saving vaccines is inexcusable.”
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Gomez Licon reported from Miami.