Many In FL Have Difficulty Getting Coronavirus Vaccine: Survey

FLORIDA — Though more than 2 million people have received the coronavirus vaccination in Florida since the end of December, more than half the respondents to a Florida Patch survey about the vaccine rollout have had a difficult time getting one. Patch received 708 responses to the survey.

As vaccine distribution rolls out in Florida, coronavirus numbers also continue to increase daily. According to the state's COVID-19 dashboard, 8,351 new cases were reported Wednesday. This brings the total to 1,806,805 coronavirus cases confirmed in the state since the start of the pandemic.

As for vaccinations, as of Thursday morning, 2,165,911 people in the Sunshine State have received at least the first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna brand vaccines. This includes 891,741 people who received both shots in the two-shot series.

But nearly 55 percent of respondents said it’s been “very hard” finding a location to get the vaccine. Another 15 percent called the experience “somewhat hard.”

Fourteen percent said they had a “very easy” time getting vaccinated.

Many survey respondents expressed frustration with the state vaccine registration system or those operated at the county level. Numerous readers said they are eligible for the vaccine but continue to wait for their name to be selected for an appointment.

“In Manatee County it is a lotto (system),” one reader wrote. “I registered the first day but have not been called yet.”

Another reader called the registration system “utterly ridiculous,” adding that they’ve registered through various providers.

“(We) put our names in everywhere available! They are all gone in an hour! A million people in Pinellas (County) Thousands of elderly like us (and) they gave us 10,000 doses,” they wrote.

Of those respondents who received the vaccine, 47 percent attended a mass vaccination event with an appointment. Nearly 7 percent said they were vaccinated at a similar mass event but didn’t schedule an appointment in advance.

About 27 percent said they received their vaccine by making an appointment with a Florida health care provider, while 2 percent said they were vaccinated by their health care provider without an appointment.

Around 41 percent of those who were vaccinated by appointment said they only needed to wait “a few days” before receiving the vaccine. About 27 percent of respondents said they had to wait about a week for their vaccine appointment, while 10 percent waited a month or longer. Nearly 7 percent received their vaccine within a few hours of registering for an appointment.

For those who received the first shot, some readers experienced a sore arm, but many had no side effects after the shot. After the second shot, though, more respondents experienced a sore arm, fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches or a headache.

As Florida moves through its first phase of vaccination, the state continues to target three communities: frontline health care workers with direct patient contact, residents and staff in long-term care facilities, and individuals who are 65 and older. Hospitals can also choose to vaccinate those they feel are vulnerable to coronavirus.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order prioritizing these groups in December.

Of those eligible for the vaccine, 56 percent of respondents said they haven't received it yet. Nearly 41 of those who took the Patch survey and were eligible for the vaccine have already received at least their first dose.

Many respondents said technology has been a problem as they’ve attempted to register for the vaccine.

One reader said “websites crashed (and) phone lines jammed” as they attempted to register and they couldn’t receive a vaccine appointment.

“I cannot get an appointment in this archaic system. I have tried every avenue. I’m 76 and high risk,” another reader said.

Another wrote, “This is a nightmare and too fragmented to even be called a system. Every delivery location has a separate web tool to arrange appointments. The state's ‘My Vaccine’ waiting list system seems like just a black hole that sounded good and calmed people down. I honestly don't know anyone who has gotten a call to make the appointment.”