(Newser)
– Florida is dealing with its own coronavirus problem. The state announced new rules this week to contain what became known as “vaccine tourism” – non-residents traveling to the state to take their COVID injections, reports the Tallahassee Democrat. From now on, those who register for consultations must present proof of residence. Roof:
- The beginning: The problem has been going on for weeks because the state opened fire on anyone aged 65 and over, whether they are residents or not, according to Wall Street Journal. Yet, real state residents were becoming increasingly tired of being put in line. “It’s disgusting,” a 76-year-old Miami Beach resident told the newspaper. “It is not good for me if everyone is coming in and I have to wait six months. At my age, time is running out for me, and that’s not fair. “
- Out of state: People came from other parts of the United States. For example, the WBMA speaks to a couple from Georgia who drove for two hours to cross the border and take their pictures. “They knew we were coming from another state and said it was a good thing, so we didn’t feel like we were pushing anyone out, which we didn’t want to do,” said Connie Wallace.
- Foreigners: But the out-of-state were not the only non-Floridians taking advantage. O Sun Sentinel reports that foreigners, mainly Argentines and Canadians, also exploited the rules. “If I had been able to do it in Argentina, I would have done it,” lawyer Ana Rosenfeld told the newspaper. She took a picture near Tampa. A Buenos Aires newspaper, Clarin, reported that about a dozen corporate executives also flew to Florida for vaccines.
- Snowbirds OK: The new rules will not prohibit “snow birds” – Americans who reside in Florida only in winter – from receiving photos, reports CNN. “We now have part-time residents who stay here all winter,” said the state’s surgeon general, Dr. Scott Rivkees. “They go to the doctors here or whatever, that’s fine. What we don’t want are tourists, foreigners. We want to put the elderly first, but obviously we want to put the people who live here first in line.”
- General picture: CNN talks to a Vanderbilt expert who is not bothered by the “vaccine tourism” phenomenon. “Instead of ‘it’s my vaccine, not yours’, (getting) the vaccine in arms is what we want,” says Dr. William Schaffner. “I hope we have enough vaccine quickly so that we don’t have to dwell on these petty issues.”
- Travel: At the New York Times, David Leonhardt describes a “vaccination trip” he made with his 74-year-old mother. She was living with him in DC, where implementation was complicated. She usually lives in Colorado, so they reserved a place for her there. Leonhardt took her to St. Louis, and a sister took her the rest of the way to Denver.
(Read more stories from COVID-19.)