...there is a random, but biased system that caters to white, repubs mostly. No one actually knows who is getting the vaccine deliveries other than a portion that comes to each county health department - estimates of 1/4th to 1/3rd, but the actual number controlled by the DOH offices is suspect.

At any rate, the DOH set ups are usually overrun quickly when they get an allocation even though they have done better the last few weeks as far as I can see around here.

There are a bunch of vaccine allocations to Publix and various health systems (like hospitals). CVS and Walgreens and private MDs don't seem to have much or any vaccine yet. Those hospitals and health systems set up their own email lists or websites that are supposed to follow the DeSatan's rules (over 65 for example). It is a bit misleading, because those hospitals don't always advertise to the public at large, but may send an email or broadcast to some select population - which explains some of the geographic and demographic disparities. I got my vaccine shot from one of the hospital email lists, that was completely booked up within a few hours of the broadcast.

If you have time to hunt on line, and if you know where to look, and if you can travel; then you can get an appointment in a few days or maybe a few weeks. I know a bunch of locals who get an appointment an hour or two away at a hospital or Publix. That's what the snowbirds and folks from South America are doing...someone hunts them down an a appointment, and they fly in and get the vaccine. I suspect that Florida got a large allocation because of DeSatan, but I don't know for sure.

It's the reason why it's so easy to be controlled by small, politically connected groups. EVERYTHING around here is based on who you know. Which means you have to suck someone's dick in order to get access to necessary resources.

As our population increases, and this system of cronyism is received with major dissent from a growing population, I hope it will finally destroy the good ole boy system forever.

It is the inevitable end of having total Republican control of the state for too long. Scott, Rubio, DeSantis and thousands of underlings that are just like them, of course it will be condition of service of, as it was once explained to me, of, "Those who gots, gets."

the obstacles that we deal with because old timers, in both parties, are resistant to changing the cronyistic ways. Too many advantages for them and their families to know how to use back channels.

Then, and only then, can a Stacey Abrams type walk in here and kick the table over. She would have to know how to garner support from the newcomers, as well as the people who have lived here that are fed up with the cronyistic style that benefits the few.

I too have been vaccinated in FL, but only because we kind of stumbled onto an opportunity to do so.
If you're 65 or over in FL and do not have a good command of technology, you are probably still unable to get an appointment for the shots.
The fact is, the Governor is pandering to the largest voting base in the state - seniors.
Meanwhile his shady strategy is favoring special interests - like Publix, which largely does not have a significant presence in minority neighborhoods.
If Biden didn't win, it would've been a much slower process than we will now see with the administration opening up pharmacies, getting the Guard involved, and overseeing the flow of product from manufacturer through distribution.
Still, as always, the FL Gov. is just another incompetent racist who is using the crisis for his own political advantage.

(sorry about the deletes - my internet if very balky today)

...actually, his son (an attorney) hunted on the Publix websites for hours, and got an appointment about 2 hours away. The family is driving him there.

I appears that Publix and some hospital systems that donated to DeSatan or the GOP got dibs on some of the vaccine. Even though it's true that Publix set up websites in a free-for-all, it's not clear how much actually went to other folks in private networks.

I know at least SOME of the vaccine went to a hospital or insurance groups who emailed their list and offered the vaccine to those who received the email. Even though they may be following guidelines (like over 65), that vaccine allocation was essentially earmarked for their email list.

There is no "universal" or "organized" process in Florida - or at least not with DeSatan making the rules. I'm sure that Biden will have to set up some kind of Federal or government distribution at public sites or it won't get better.

and again today trying to get an appointment through the Publix website. Before that we wasted similar amounts of time trying to get appointments with the Health Department. My rough guess is there are around 200K people over 65 who are eligible to get the vaccine in this county. Publix gave out about 12K appointments in Pinellas this week. These Internet stampedes are a stupid way to schedule appointments and waste huge amounts of time. The Publix page refreshes every 60 seconds, so people have to sit and check their screens for about an hour, only to be told the appointments are fully booked. The Pinellas County Health Department says it is now doing second doses and is not offering new appointments. I don't trust anything this state does, but I don't think ineligible people are getting the vaccine at highly visible locations. There is a residency requirement, but what it would take to meet it would not be hard for a wealthy person to accomplish.

Anyone who receives an allotment, who isn't part of the approved group list would be smart to keep quiet.

As always, money talks and who you know is important.

And if we could find a clear source of preferential disbursement of the vaccine, it would be legally actionable.

The system favors white people who can afford the time and travel to find vaccine somewhere. I refuse to leave my county to get the vaccine but know people who have.

We were up at 6am Wednesday trying to get her an appt. I opened 5 windows and when the 60 seconds counted down I went to the next window then the next and so on and so on. At 6:46am we finally got to the appt. screen. We go today at 10:48am to get her the first shot. She is ecstatic!!!

Last edited Fri Feb 5, 2021, 02:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Country USA
County Pinellas

I'm in Dunedin. Good to hear people actually are getting appointments. On Wednesday we were both on the Publix site and both got knocked off of it, which took us to the end of the line. Thank you for responding.

Just an FYI she received the Moderna vaccine and she is not having any issues at all. Like I said earlier she is ecstatic.

registered. Got a conferming email and I wait...nada nada bupkis..
So you just to to the publix website to register their?
m

The address for Publix is https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine

The next time to try Publix is on Wednesday 2/10 at 7 a.m. There is no registration until you actually get to the appointment page AFAIK.

I think they're the only show in the county right now. The Pinellas Health Department is giving second shots to the people who already got their first ones through the department. I know someone who got a shot through a church and have heard veterans have gotten shots at Bay Pines. I also know people who went from Pinellas to Spring Hill and Brooksville and got shots in those places (Publix and a parking lot).

Good luck.

All our Hospitals here fall under the Lee Health system and many Doctors here are in the Lee Physicians Group which is tied into the Lee Health System.

With that said, I did not make an appointment, Friday morning my infectious disease Doctor's office called me & asked me if I wanted the COVID-19 vaccine which of course I said yes & they told me to be at the Cape Coral Hospital at 1:30pm to get my shot.

While I was at the Hospital, I did ask the nurse if she could tell me how the process worked there & this is what she told me (paraphrasing) With Lee Health's vaccine supply they used the State's guidelines to distribute the vaccine to Lee Physicians Group patients. I am only 57 years old but with all my underlying health conditions my name was red flagged for the vaccine.

I cannot speak of any other places here in Lee County that has the vaccine because I do not know.

I hope this post makes sense.

Bill

I have a friend who is over 65 and it sounds from her Facebook post that she had to count on her phone tree network to get an appointment in a timely manner.

The worst part in Florida is that there is no uniformity for the Counties. Each County does what it wants to & to me that is nothing but chaos.

I know this idea will piss off the right (a plus if you ask me), I would like to see a mandate from the Federal Government on how to get people vaccinated. Leaving it up to the States then in our case passing it on to the Counties, was an unbelievably bad idea.

I wish you & everyone God speed on getting vaccinated.

Bill

they have in each county. Let's face it. Republicans don't like people outside of their own party, or people that will be useful to them. And even within their own circles, they're cruel.

That some of you are having luck, especially for the 92 year old relative. We are signed up, but patiently waiting and are on the list for this County. They are not being offered at Publix in our County, which surprises me because you would think D Satan would want as many people in there as possible so they can do their shopping and have more to donate to his party.

It appears he has been holding vaccine back so people get their second shot, but I looked at the stats and the federal government is sending out vaccine for the second shot each time they send some out for the first dosage. Maybe we can all get together and find the vaccines that are in the stolen car. Just kidding