Limited Number Of Vaccines To Be Distributed Friday At St. Leo U

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Pasco County Government, in support of the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, has contracted with CDR Maguire Emergency Health & Medical, one of the state's leading coronavirus testing companies, to provide vaccination scheduling through its CDR HealthPro patient portal.

Florida Health Department-Pasco Director Michael J. Napier said the new registration system is easier to use and can handle the mass volumes of calls from residents age 65 and up wanting to register to receive vaccines.

"We want you to know we're doing everything we can to improve that process," he said.

The county received 500 more doses of the vaccine this week but 250 were already set aside for residents who previously preregistered. The other 250 were quickly claimed by residents who registered when the phone and online system opened at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Those vaccinations will be administered Friday at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To get to the drive-thru vaccination site, enter at the university's main entrance at the traffic light on State Road 52 and Palm Boulevard. Enter the traffic circle and make the first right. Follow the directional signs.

During future vaccinations, Pasco County will also offer shots at Gulfview Square Mall, 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey, which is also a testing site.

Residents age 65 and up can preregister and create an account online at the CDR HealthPro portal or by phone at 844-770-8548. (If you call and the appointments are full, you will be told to go online and preregister for future appointments or call back when appointments are available.)

Appointments are mandatory to get the first of two vaccine injections. Pasco County expects to receive allocations of vaccine from the state as they are made available. Vaccination appointments will be provided to the public based on the vaccine supply allocation that the county receives.

A limited amount of vaccines is anticipated over the next several weeks, Napier said.

"Believe me, I share your frustration with the limited supply of vaccine Pasco County has received, especially since we have the ability to provide thousands of vaccines a week if we had that much to give," Napier said.