TAMPA – The vaccine registration site crashed shortly after it was launched Monday morning in Hillsborough County, leaving the phone as the only option. But callers were on hold for hours, interrupted in the middle of the conversation or completely disconnected.
And with only 9,000 doses of the coveted vaccine available, those living in the poorest communities in Tampa have never said a prayer. But on Sunday morning, the vaccine reached them.
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County administered 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to members of St. John’s Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa’s College Hill neighborhood.
It is part of an effort by Governor Ron DeSantis to vaccinate more of the state’s most vulnerable residents through partnerships with community centers, churches and other institutions that promote trust.
“We really believe that ensuring that these vaccines reach all segments of the community is important and we think that working with our houses of worship is one way to do that,” said DeSantis on Sunday when announcing partnerships with 50 mostly houses of worship. Black women in Tampa, Lynn Haven, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie and Tallahassee.
St. John’s is one of seven churches where the vaccine will be administered. All churches will help to enroll people in consultations to get the vaccine and help educate people about why they should get it.
The goal is 500 vaccinations per day at each location for people over 65. The state is expected to receive 250,000 injections of the two-dose vaccine this week, DeSantis said.
“Regardless of the problems that are going on in someone’s life, you can always go to church on Sunday morning,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Sunday. “So, what better place to be able to administer this vaccine, especially to those individuals who may be at high risk?”
The initiative comes at a time when DeSantis faces criticism for mixed messages or no message about the state’s plan to launch the limited number of vaccine doses available. Training his office launched is incomplete and sometimes different from federal data. Reporters’ questions for clarity remained unanswered.
Despite all the complications in Hillsborough last week, health officials distributed 9,000 doses of the vaccine, said Dr. Douglas Holt, director of the Florida Department of Health in the county. They had planned 1,500.
The extra doses came from Tampa General Hospital, he said – a welcome surprise, but one that revealed the limitations of the county’s coronavirus call center.
The county hired a new contractor to help handle a higher volume of calls, said Holt. He anticipated that another 9,000 doses of vaccine would be available this week. Where and when it has not yet been finalized.
“The supply of the vaccine still drives everything,” he said. “Rest assured, there will be no vaccine. If you come to this county, we will remove you. “
Since December 27, the day Florida counties received their first shipments of the coronavirus vaccine, Hillsborough County has vaccinated 26,777 people, the records show. Of these, 3,869 received the second injection in the two-dose vaccination.
On Sunday afternoon, health officials administered the coronavirus vaccine to 558,326 people across the state, and 38,409 of them completed the two-dose series.
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