More Than 64,700 People Vaccinated In Sarasota County

Sarasota FL

17 February, 2021

2:54 PM

Description

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Though the nationwide winter storm delayed coronavirus vaccine shipments to Florida this week, the vaccination appointments scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday at the Sarasota Square Mall have been unaffected by the bad weather. The arrival of additional vaccine doses to Florida has been delayed, but the Department of Health in Sarasota County "does not schedule future appointments for doses that are not in-hand or confirmed to arrive on-site," the county said in an email Wednesday. Residents next in line for first-dose appointments or those approaching their 28-day mark for their booster shot should remain patient, the county said. They'll receive a notification when they can receive their vaccine dose and are asked not to show up at the mall without an appointment. In Wednesday's video update, Steve Huard, the DOH public information officer in Sarasota County, asked that those scheduled to receive the vaccine, arrive prepared for an inoculation. "If you're coming for that first-dose vaccine today, we ask that you arrive ready to receive the vaccine," he said. "So, maybe wear a short sleeve or something that's appropriate to receive a vaccine in your arm…We're going to want you to have that signed consent form ready to go and we need you to be ready to be here at the mall for about 30 to 45 minutes." This timeframe includes a 15-minute waiting period after receiving the shot, Huard said. He also reminded those who have received their first shot of the Moderna vaccine that they "don't have to be married to that 28-day mark" for the booster shot. It can be received up to four days ahead of the 28-day mark or "as soon as you can" after it. "It's really not something to worry about that 28-day mark as a hard, fast rule. We just need you to get it as close to that mark as possible," he said. As of Tuesday, more than 64,700 people have received at least the first shot in the two-dose series, the county said. The DOH has scheduled vaccine appointments through number 21,163 in its vaccine queue. Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Sarasota newsletters and real-time email alerts. To receive the vaccine in Sarasota County, people must sign up through Everbridge, which can be accessed online here. You can also register by calling 941-861-VAXS (8297). When you register through the Everbridge system for vaccine registration, you're automatically entered into a queue. Those who register to receive a vaccination, will remain on the list until doses become available. Then, they'll be contacted by the county to set up an appointment. Since launching the system, the county has added a registration number to each account so you can tell where you are in line. That number can be found in the "account number" in the "My Information" section when you sign in. The county will contact you when doses are available. Those who receive an appointment notification have two hours to confirm or decline it, according to an email from Sarasota County. If an individual declines an appointment, they won't lose their place in the queue. They'll be contacted for the next available vaccine clinic. If receiving notifications by phone, the call will come from 941-861-8297. Emails will come from the Department of Health in Sarasota County COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System using the email address [email protected]. And those notified by text will receive a messaged from the number 88911.