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Zorro

(15,690 posts)
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 03:19 PM Dec 2020

Florida seniors begin swarming coronavirus vaccination sites

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Hundreds of seniors formed long lines outside testing sites — camping out overnight with lawn chairs and blankets — to get vaccinated.


Joel and Susan Pittelman, from Naples wait in line to receive COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday at East County Regional Library in Lehigh Acres. [ ANDREW WEST/THE NEWS-PRESS (AP) ]

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis begged for patience from anxious seniors waiting their turn to get inoculated against COVID-19, as confusion and frustration arose over the availability of the life-saving vaccine among some of the state’s most vulnerable.

At a testing site in southwest Florida, hundreds of seniors formed long lines outside testing sites — camping out overnight with lawn chairs and blankets — to get vaccinated. Before the sun had even risen Wednesday morning, the county’s vaccine supply for the day was already accounted for, prompting officials to turn down anyone else who was arriving.

Seniors in other parts of the state were frustrated by busy phone lines and websites that would no longer issue new vaccination appointments.

DeSantis has prioritized Floridians older than 65 to be next in line for the state’s stock of vaccine, now that most health care workers and other first responders are protected against the virus that has infected more than 1.2 million Floridians and killed more than 21,000.

More than 82 percent of those who have died from the disease have been older than 65, underscoring the urgency in getting older Floridians vaccinated, the governor said Wednesday.

Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/12/30/florida-seniors-begin-swarming-coronavirus-vaccination-sites/

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Skittles

(152,918 posts)
1. surely there is a better way to do it
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 03:24 PM
Dec 2020

I'm glad they're getting the shots but jeez, how long have the authorities had to plan for this?

Clearly fogged in

(1,895 posts)
4. Lehigh Acres isn't even in the same county.
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 03:50 PM
Dec 2020

Naples is in Collier County and Lehigh Acres is in Lee County. Lehigh Acres is a rural community with far fewer resources and home to working families, many of whom cannot afford the higher housing costs of either Lee or Collier counties. Why am I not surprised?

Clearly fogged in

(1,895 posts)
7. Isn't that the truth? (about the news)
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 04:08 PM
Dec 2020

My eldest daughter lives near Hancock Bridge Parkway, a little more than an hour away. At times I go to the VA hospital up there - the cape is enormous. Are you on the same end?

C Moon

(12,182 posts)
8. Can those who are vaccinated still spread the virus?
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 04:52 PM
Dec 2020

If so, mask wearing will still be required for those who are vaccinated. I can see a lot of people who are vaccinated taking the "I got mine attitude" and not wear a mask.

pnwmom

(108,915 posts)
10. Fauci says yes, everyone will still need to wear masks. They haven't yet finished research
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 05:41 PM
Dec 2020

that should show whether people could still transmit the virus after being vaccinated.

Skittles

(152,918 posts)
19. yup
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 10:07 PM
Dec 2020

I would continue to wear a mask in solidarity with the folk who had yet to receive the vaccine; that is what happens when you think about others.

iluvtennis

(19,716 posts)
13. Come on now, this is ridiculous. Most people have a cell phone. Have them stay in their cars,
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 07:22 PM
Dec 2020

provide them a number to text once they arrive. When they text, it puts them in a "first come, first served" queue. When it's time for them to get their vaccination, the facility texts them back to come inside for their shots.

flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
15. at this rate it will take 10 years to vaccinate enough to stop the spread
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 08:48 PM
Dec 2020

Things are going to get worse before they get better. People fighting to get the vaccine, people diverting or selling vaccines. People who do get vaccinated running around maskless. Hospitals turning people away.

Everyone's waiting for 2021, but 2020 is going to have us by the nuts for some time still, I'm afraid.

 

Baclava

(12,047 posts)
16. Follow your local health dept instructions. You have to call in to get appt for drive up vaccine
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 08:53 PM
Dec 2020

appleannie1

(5,028 posts)
17. Half of people in nursing homes and healthcare workers are just starting to get vaccinated in PA.
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 08:54 PM
Dec 2020

How come Florida is so far ahead of other states? Not that they don't need to be vaccinated and it should be done more methodically but why are other areas so far behind?

Sancho

(9,063 posts)
18. Many of this group voted for Desatan!!!
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 09:56 PM
Dec 2020

I'm a senior in Clearwater and we are in the middle of the biggest dumpster-fire, train-wreck, or whatever-you-call-it that anyone can imagine.

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