‘Shot shopping,’ COVID-19 vaccine allotments frustrate rural counties in Florida
Dara Kam, Senior reporter, News Service of Florida
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FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2021 file photo, a health care professional prepares a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel. Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantzs office said Sundya, Jan. 31, 2021, that Israel has agreed to transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers. It is the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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Okeechobee County Commissioner Terry Burroughs says residents of his county are being “short-changed” because people from nearby regions are snapping up the highly sought-after vaccine doses.
The small counties’ frustration of being short-changed is among a litany of complaints about Florida’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Shot shopping” by seniors from neighboring areas and uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccine allotments are vexing local officials in rural counties, but the state s emergency management chief blames the problems on supply shortages.
The small counties’ frustration is among a litany of complaints about Florida’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, as elected officials in counties of all sizes are flooded by requests from constituents trying to get potentially life-saving shots.
2/1/2021
Florida Department of Health Provides Week Seven Updates on Florida’s Vaccination Efforts Under Governor DeSantis’ Leadership
~Florida Leads Nation in Vaccinations of Seniors~
The Florida Department of Health issued an update on the progress of the state s vaccination efforts, as well as its weekly COVID-19 update. The State of Florida is in its seventh week of vaccine distribution and is continuing to increase vaccine access statewide.
This week, Governor DeSantis released his Florida Leads budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The “Florida Leads” budget proposal continues to protect Florida’s most vulnerable residents and put Florida’s Seniors First.
By Joel Malkin
Feb 1, 2021
A portion of the COVID-19 vaccines that were destined for Publix will now be diverted to the Health Department in Palm Beach County for distribution.
That s according to a weekend Tweet from County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who had been complaining that there are no Publix stores in western Palm Beach County.
McKinlay claims that she spoke on the phone with Jared Moskowitz, the director of Florida s Division of Emergency Management.
Local health officials last week confirmed that Publix would be the main distributor of the vaccine in Palm Beach County.
County leaders have been requesting changes to the Publix plan.
By Joel Malkin
Feb 1, 2021
A portion of the COVID-19 vaccines that were destined for Publix will now be diverted to the Health Department in Palm Beach County for distribution.
That s according to a weekend Tweet from County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who had been complaining that there are no Publix stores in western Palm Beach County.
McKinlay claims that she spoke on the phone with Jared Moskowitz, the director of Florida s Division of Emergency Management.
Local health officials last week confirmed that Publix would be the main distributor of the vaccine in Palm Beach County.
County leaders have been requesting changes to the Publix plan.