The local vaccine roll-out process has been confusing and frustrating for members of our community. Please know I share your concerns.
Along those lines, I’d like to offer some insight on the vaccine distribution process.
- The vaccination program for all 67 counties is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), the lead agency designated by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Palm Beach County and Florida’s other 66 counties are acting in a supporting role to the FDOH, which is “calling the shots.”
- So far, only seven counties in Florida – Palm Beach among them – have received vaccine shipments.
- Miami-Dade and Broward counties received the Pfizer vaccine and two weeks later Palm Beach County received a limited supply of the Moderna vaccine.
- To date, the local FDOH office was only allocated 25,000 doses of the vaccine. As of yesterday, the local state health department reported only 7,100 vaccines were remaining. Consequently, everyone cannot be vaccinated in a week or even a month — it will take time.
- Based on the CDC recommendations, the initial plan was to vaccinate a limited group -- fire rescue EMT/paramedics and health care workers. Hospitals and long-term care facilities received separate allocations administered by Walgreens and CVS.
However, on December 23, Gov. DeSantis issued an executive order that added seniors (65 and over) to the first round of vaccinations. In Palm Beach County, roughly 400,000 people – 25 percent of the county’s population – were suddenly eligible for vaccinations.
This put an overwhelming strain on an already challenged inoculation plan and led to the long waits many of you have experienced when calling the FDOH local vaccination hotline.
The long-term plan is to make vaccine access as easy as securing a flu shot, as quickly, safely and equitably as possible. That will include the following:
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Point of Distribution Sites (PODS) and mobile vans within some of our communities in coordination with the state
- Use of testing sites countywide
- Partnerships with local hospitals, pharmacies (i.e., CVS, Walgreens, and Publix)
Additionally, the VA medical Center in Riviera Beach is providing vaccinations to age 75 and older only to veterans and is receiving its supply directly from the federal government, not the state.
I have asked our county administration to work with Dr. Alina Alonso, the local FDOH Director, to develop a plan to keep our residents updated on the vaccination program. The county is considering the use of its emergency notification system to push out messages with respect to the availability of the vaccine and how to make an appointment to receive your two doses.
For anyone age 65 or older who wants to schedule a vaccination, please send an email to chd50feedback@flhealth.gov and provide your name, address, date of birth and phone number, so a community health personnel can contact you. It may take days or even weeks before you get a reply, but you will be contacted.
This is an unprecedented pandemic that has presented a myriad of challenges. I am hopeful that in the coming weeks, the state’s vaccination plan will be more expedient as more shipments of the vaccines are received.
Please continue to get tested if you experience symptoms.
For a comprehensive list of over 115 testing sites (public and private) please click here.
