Palm Beach County Commission
District 4
From the desk of
Vice Mayor Robert S. Weinroth
561-276-1220
rweinroth@pbcgov.org
COVID-19 vaccine hotline for senior citizens
The Florida Dept. of Health - Palm Beach County (County Health Dept.) has announced they are scheduling appointments for vaccinations for residents 65 years or older. The hotline number is 561-625-5180.

Due to the high volume of calls, they are experiencing delays and suggest you keep trying or wait a day or two.
Vaccine rollout
The County Health Department is responsible for receipt and distribution of the vaccine on behalf of the state. Initial priorities for distribution are defined in the governor’s order: health care personnel, seniors, and long-term care facility residents and staff.

County staff is working closely with the County Health Department and Health Care District staff to complete the strategies for our local efforts to distribute the vaccine. Our local efforts will be in addition to the direct rollouts of the vaccine by the state of Florida or direct deliveries by federal agencies or contractors. 

In addition to the initial vaccination of health care personnel including EMS workers in closed PODS (points of distribution), our local strategy to reach individuals 65 years of age and up is expected to include the use of PODS for the general public.  PODS for the public may be within private communities that are working with contracted providers approved for vaccine distribution by the state under the “Florida Shots” system. It is our understanding that they will be receiving direct shipments of the vaccine from the state allocation.

For individuals who do not reside in communities with association-arranged providers, we will be mobilizing vaccination teams for those 65 years of age and older within communities with large senior populations. 

The plans for these teams are being finalized with expected startup in one to two weeks depending upon the availability of the vaccine. We are also making arrangements for one or more fixed vaccination centers that will be announced at a later date.

With regard to individual and community inquiries, we are informing the public that our plans are still in development and the timing is dependent upon the distribution of the vaccine by the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the County Health Department. 

Announcements specific to public distribution will be forthcoming from the County Health Department and the Division of Emergency Management. We will be sharing details with you as they become available
 
Vaccine FAQ’s

Florida Health Vaccine Information Page

Florida Health COVID-19 24 hour hotline number is 866-779-6121

For Florida Health updates via text, text FLCOVID19 to 888777

All vaccines will be given free of charge.
Quarantine versus isolation
Quarantine keeps someone who was in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others. If you had close contact with a person who has COVID-19:

  • Stay home until 14 days after your last contact.
  • Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
  • If possible, stay away from people who are at higher risk for getting sick from COVID-19.

Isolation keeps someone who is sick, or tested positive for COVID-19 and is without symptoms, away from others, even in their own home. If you are sick and think or know you have COVID-19, stay home until:

  • at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared,
  • at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication
  • symptoms have improved

If you tested positive for COVID-19, but do not have symptoms, stay home until 10 days have passed since your positive test. If you live with others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area and away from other people or animals, including pets. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
COVID-19 testing
For a comprehensive list of over 115 testing sites (public and private) please click here. All sites will be closed on New Year's Day.
COVID-19 reminders
The county is currently in Phase 3 re-openings, all capacity limitations have been lifted, and businesses may operate at 100% capacity while adhering to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. For more information, click here.

Facial coverings (Emergency Order 2020-012) are still in place.

Additionally, all individuals, businesses, and establishments, are required to adhere to:

  • social distancing guidelines issued by the CDC, and
  • enhanced cleaning protocols, such as those in guidelines issued by the CDC (relating to enhanced cleaning and disinfecting guidance for reopening).

The COVID-19 Education Compliance Team will continue to inspect establishments, and education remains the team’s primary focus. The public comment line is 561-24COVID, and the email is covidcompliance@pbcgov.org.
Covid app available




All CombatCOVID app users who have been in close proximity to a COVID-19-positive person will receive a push notification recommending they get tested immediately, without revealing anyone’s personal identity. Suggested locations for testing are also provided.
 
Unlike other apps, CombatCOVID doesn't use GPS or location notification in its architecture. The app user’s privacy and identity are protected. No names, email addresses, locations or personal identifying information is required or acquired by the app.
 
Your device’s phone number is encrypted and never shared with anyone, including local health officials. All data and information about a device in close proximity to another device is ONLY stored on the device.
Food resources
Food Finder Map
United Way offers an Interactive Food Finder map to assist in locating free food and hot meals throughout Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County Food Bank
To find food distribution sites through the Palm Beach County Food Bank, please click here.

Feeding South Florida
To find food distribution sites through Feeding South Florida, please click here.

School District of Palm Beach County
Breakfast and lunch is free to all students attending school in person on campus. The district also offers free grab-and-go curbside meal pickup on Tuesdays and Thursdays for those who have remained in distance learning. All sites will be closed for Winter Break (Dec. 20, 2020 – Jan. 4, 2021) and will resume the Tuesday and Thursday distributions starting on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.
Please click here for updated times and locations.