TAMPA – Confusion and long lines hindered vaccinations on Thursday at the state-supported location on the University Mall, where people waited for hours and some elderly people were prevented from taking their second dose.
The line of stationary cars stretched more than two miles at one point, the latest illustration of how the vaccine’s launch in Florida in the past two months went wrong. The unprecedented logistical challenge of giving Floridians access to vaccines has been continually hampered by unclear, contradictory or changing distribution plans, poor communication and limited supplies that sometimes lead to chaos.
Thursday’s problems stemmed in part from confusion about people showing up for a second dose without an appointment – although that doesn’t seem to be the only problem that causes delays.
The last vaccination was only given around 8:45 pm, according to a spokesman for the health department. About 3,500 people received doses.
The state had to bring in additional staff to work overnight to ensure that everyone with an appointment was vaccinated, said Samantha Bequer, a spokeswoman for the Florida Emergency Management Division.
“Individuals who do not have an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be asked to return only when they have an appointment,” Bequer said by email.
The University Mall vaccination site was originally opened by Hillsborough County as one of its vaccination sites, but was taken over as a state-supported site three weeks ago. That time means that the first people to receive doses from the state-backed version of the site are now beginning to return for second doses.
Hillsborough County had already told residents that they received the first doses at their vaccination sites that they should return to the same location for second doses 21 days later, even if they had not obtained an appointment confirmation, confirmed Kevin Watler, a spokesman. Hillsborough Health Department voice.
But the state’s rules are different.
“Those who need a second injection will be vaccinated. We apologize for the confusion and know that it is extremely frustrating, ”said Watler. He said there were an “overwhelming” number of people attending without an appointment. He said he expects the site to have more waiting time over the weekend.
Bequer said in a statement that people receiving their first doses at a state-supported location will receive a call from the state before the date listed on their vaccination card so that an appointment for a second dose can be scheduled.
Yvonne Yolie Capin, 71, said she never received such a call.
Capin, who served in Tampa City Hall from 2010 to 2019, said she showed up at 9am at the University Mall for her second chance and waited more than three hours before being rejected.
She never received a call with an appointment for her second dose and was unable to contact anyone to make sure she was okay to come back on Thursday. His vaccination card was dated Thursday for his second appointment. She said she had read that she should still return 21 days after the first injection, even without an appointment.
However, when Capin finally reached a checkpoint, she was rejected, she said.
“It’s very, very confusing,” she said.
She is determined not to return to the University Mall website, even if it means missing her second dose and having to start the vaccination process again, she said.
At around 2 pm, about 4,000 cars stopped in line for vaccines. Traffic at some points stopped on Fowler Avenue up to 56th Street, a county health department official confirmed.
Pamela Hackenberry was waiting in one of those cars.
The 65-year-old said she had a noon appointment to get her first injection. She showed up half an hour ahead of time, after driving from Clearwater Beach.
However, two and a half hours later, there was still a long line of cars ahead of him.
“I can’t understand why I’m waiting so long,” she said. “This is crazy.”
In a nearby car, Victoria Reynoso, 66, was starting to worry. Her appointment was for 1 pm and she was nowhere near the beginning of the line. Her air conditioner didn’t work and all she had was a bottle of water. “I’m worried,” she said.
Valerie Pyles, 72, and her husband, Denzel Rogers, 74, were expecting even more. They said around 2:30 pm that they were waiting in line for six hours for appointments scheduled for 9:45 am and 10:45 am. Pyles needs oxygen and she was starting to worry about how much longer the wait would be.
At 4 pm, police vehicles blocked some of the entrances to prevent more cars from appearing at the vaccine site.
From his place in line, away from the vaccination area, Al Larcher and his wife Michele, both 76 and the Sun City Center, continued their long wait. They were in line just before 10 am. Lunch had been apple cookies and peanut butter. They used the toilets at a Fowler Avenue gas station while waiting in the line of cars on the road.
On Thursday, more than 102,000 Hillsborough residents received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to state data. Not all of these doses came from the University Mall website.
The county has reported more than 105,000 coronavirus cases to date and more than 1,400 deaths.
Bequer said that people who have passed the date listed on their vaccination card for a second dose and who have not been contacted about scheduling a second appointment, should go to myvaccine.fl.gov, fill in their contact information and select the option from the drop-down menu that says “No, I’m looking for a second dose” under the question of whether the user is looking for a first dose.
“The state is working to schedule appointments for the second dose as soon as possible and we ask that individuals remain patient during this period,” said Bequer.
Times correspondent William March contributed to this report.
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