Appointments For The Coronavirus Vaccine Still Available For Hillsborough County Senior Residents

From Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County:

January 5, 2021

As of January 5, 2021 – Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine are still available to residents age 65 and older this week in Hillsborough County. The County, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, expanded the operational hours of its vaccine call center and will triple the number of call agents tomorrow to help residents in this category secure needed appointments.

The call center will be open until 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, Jan. 4, and will operate from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Due to overwhelmingly high demand, the external online registration system and phone center experienced service interruptions throughout Monday as teams worked to mitigate the technical issues. At this time, all appointments MUST be made by phone. Online registration has been temporarily discontinued.

Appointments are mandatory for residents age 65 and older to get the first of two vaccine injections. Residents can make an appointment for the vaccination site most convenient for them.

Appointments are available by calling 888-755-2822. The phone line will be open Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while supplies last.

There will be no vaccines for residents without appointments, and there is no waiting list.

The doses will be distributed at four vaccine distribution sites strategically located across the county beginning on Wednesday, Jan 6.

This week’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 6

• Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, 2700 W. Risk St., Plant City, FL 33563
• Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL 33626

Thursday, Jan. 7

• University Mall (parking lot), 2200 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33612
• Vance Vogel Sports Complex, 13012 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton, FL 33534

Friday, Jan. 8

• University Mall (parking lot)
• Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds
• Ed Radice Sports Complex

Saturday, Jan. 9

• University Mall (parking lot)
• Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds

These sites were chosen for their geographic diversity, available resources, and population density of residents age 65 and older. Details about access to the vaccine distribution sites will be given to residents upon appointment confirmation. Subsequent weeks’ schedules will be based on vaccine supply.

This video helps to explain what residents can expect at a drive-through vaccine distribution site.

The State of Florida has made about 74,000 vaccines available for health care partners across Hillsborough County, including Tampa General Hospital, BayCare Health System, CVS, and Walgreens. Hillsborough County Emergency Management also is coordinating with the State for mobile distribution of vaccines to group homes and independent living facilities that meet the State’s criteria.

Hillsborough County expects new supplies of vaccines from the state weekly, and vaccination appointments will be made available based on supply. As a reminder, Hillsborough County is in Phase I of the vaccine distribution plan as outlined and directed by the Governor of Florida. Phase I is categorized by limited supply of vaccine availability and is focused on long-term care facilities (residents and staff); front line healthcare workers; and persons 65 years and over. Limited availability is anticipated over the next several weeks.

Residents

Please understand that the vaccine is not widely available in Hillsborough County at this time and the distribution plans depend on vaccine supplies. Supplies are provided by the federal government and distributed to the states, which then allocate them to counties.

Should you have general questions about the vaccine, please call the state hotline at (866) 779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

Medical Workers

The Governor has tasked hospital systems to vaccinate community-based, unaffiliated medical staff. We are currently working with community partners to develop options for medical provider vaccinations. The Governor directed ACHA to issue an Emergency Order requiring Hospitals who received the COVID-19 vaccine to admitter it to those community providers after they complete their own at-risk staff. The State is aware this is not occurring. Once the hospital systems begin providing the vaccine, an update will be sent to all medical providers.

For the latest on public COVID-19 vaccination in Hillsborough County, visit HCFLGov.net/Vaccine .

Medical Providers

Based on the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, which will determined be week to week, we do intend provide vaccine to healthcare providers to vaccinate staff.

There will be two methods:

1 – DOH provides vaccines to the provider using a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD) agreement. Does require the agency to obtain a FLSHOTS account and update the system on vaccines given. Just a note: Several providers have formed agreements with other providers to become the “POD” for the group.

2 – As vaccines become more available, DOH-Hillsborough be setting up a vaccination POD for healthcare workers only. This would be open to any health care worker who can show identification whom they are affiliated with.

Either way, DOH is encouraging all healthcare providers to register with FLSHOTS as a Vaccine for Adult (VFA) or Vaccine for Children (VFC) provider. Although you cannot – at this time – order the COVID vaccine through this system, once it becomes more widely available, then you would be allowed to.

Attachments for Providers:

Provider Information for COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment

COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment Process for Providers

Should you want to enter into an MOU please email us.

This press release was produced by the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. The views expressed are the author's own.