You must have at least part-time residency to be vaccinated in Florida, says the governor

ORLANDO, Fla. – Anyone wishing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the State of the Sun going forward must reside in Florida at least part time, according to health authorities.

The new requirement was discussed Tuesday morning during a call with state emergency management officials, according to Seminole County Director of Emergency Management, Alan Harris.

“This is the story of the day. We just received authorization at 11:15 this morning that if you don’t have a home in the state of Florida, you need to try somewhere else. Many other states are flying here just to get the vaccine and then returning home, ”said Harris. You must present a driver’s license, electricity bill or something that says that you are a resident here in the state of Florida. This will only start tomorrow morning. “

The move is an effort to stop what is being called “vaccine tourism”, when people migrate from other states to be vaccinated and return home after receiving an injection.

Previously, all Florida vaccination sites were open to any of the priority groups – frontline healthcare professionals, residents and employees of long-term care facilities and seniors aged 65 and over – regardless of residence in the state or county.

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As of Wednesday, vaccine distributors will no longer be allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines to people outside the state without proof that they live, own or rent a home in Florida. The driver’s license, electricity bill or other form of proof must be shown before vaccination, according to Harris.

Governor Ron DeSantis also mentioned the requirement during a news conference in Cape Coral on Tuesday.

“You have to live here, you know, full-time or at least part-time,” said DeSantis.

The change comes in the wake of another adjustment in the state’s efforts to vaccinate Florida’s most vulnerable against the new coronavirus.

After three weeks of chaos during the vaccine launch in Florida for its most vulnerable residents, Florida’s director of emergency management said on January 14 that a statewide naming system for COVID vaccinations should be ready in weeks, however, a immediate schedule for that portal was not available.

[Register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida here]

Residents who are among the top priority groups should continue to check the websites of their local health departments for information about consultations and where vaccines are taking place.

As the state receives more doses, more individuals fall into the first priority vaccine groups. Next, it will be frontline workers, such as supermarket workers, teachers and police, according to DeSantis.

Floridians are asked to be patient while county health departments implement vaccination plans for millions of residents who meet age qualifications. The state is home to more than 4 million people aged 65 and over.

The vaccine is not expected to be available to the general population, including younger residents or workers outside the frontline, by the end of spring.

So far, 1,031,795 people have been vaccinated in Florida, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health, with more than 36,000 vaccines administered to people outside the state. The FDOH also reports that 93,258 people received their second chance. However, 45,056 people are late for their second vaccination.

Harris said anyone who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Seminole County will have vested rights and will be able to receive their second dose in the same place, but that as of Wednesday, health officials will crack down on the requirement to residence.

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