TAMPA, Fla — As COVID-19 vaccine shipments continue to arrive in Florida, the state is expanding distribution efforts to reach more people.
The rollout got off to a rocky start, leaving some people confused as to where to sign up for an appointment. If you live in Florida, you can get vaccinated in any county in the state regardless of where you live.
A large list of locations – including county health departments, federal vaccination sites and retail stores – are offering shots. Some third-parties are even offering services to help you find places with extra vaccine doses.
All Floridians authorized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as prescribed by the FDA are eligible for the shot. That means people age 18 and up for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and people age 12 and up for the Pfizer vaccine.
TIMELINE:
- As of April 13, Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution has been paused because of a small number of cases involving a blood clot.
- As of April 23, the pause of Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution has been lifted. Florida's Division of Emergency Management says it plans to resume giving out doses as soon as possible.
- As of May 11, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12. In Florida, people aged 12-17 must be accompanied by a guardian and complete the COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form.
- As of Nov. 2, the CDC has approved the smaller-dose Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 5. In Florida, people aged 5-17 must be accompanied by a guardian and complete the COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form.
> FIND A COVID VACCINE: You can search vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 for locations in your area.
Here's where you can book an appointment:
County health departments
A statewide pre-registration appointment website for vaccines is live at myvaccine.fl.gov.
The Florida Department of Health also has a running list of vaccine locations on its website, where you can filter results by county and city.
SEARCH FOR VACCINE SITES:
Some Tampa Bay area vaccination sites have closed. You can use the Florida Department of Health's vaccine locator portal to find a site near you.
CVS
At least 150 CVS pharmacies are offering COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only in Florida.
People can visit the company's website here and scroll down the page to "Florida." From there, the site shows which city/town is offering appointments and whether any are available or if that location is fully booked.
Following a questionnaire, people can continue scheduling an appointment at CVS.
More information about the company's appointment availability can be found here.
CVS is now vaccinating all teachers, regardless of age, per President Biden's guidelines.
Walgreens
Walgreens is receiving approximately 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer as part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Over the last two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added 16 additional states to those Walgreens is supporting as part of the federal program, for a total of 43 states and jurisdictions.
COVID-19 vaccines are by appointment only in Florida.
People can visit the company's website here and click "schedule new appointment". From there, you enter your location, and the site shows which city/town is offering appointments and whether any are available or if that location is fully booked.
Publix
The supermarket chain is offering COVID-19 vaccines at many of its pharmacy locations, including every county in the Tampa Bay area.
Vaccine appointments at Publix only can be made online at this link here, not by calling the store or going in person. The company lists every county offering the vaccine and whether appointments are available, none available or if they're fully booked at the given time.
A person must provide proof of residency prior to receiving their first dose, which includes a Flordia driver's license, ID card or two supporting documents, like a mortgage statement or financial record.
More information on booking and appointment availability can be found here.
Walmart and Sam's Club
Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies are offering the COVID-19 vaccine at more than 175 stores in counties across the state of Florida.
The company is putting an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities, hoping to fill in the areas not covered by Publix.
You can find which Walmart pharmacies are administering the vaccine at this link here and the list of Sam's Club pharmacies at this link here. Use the company's websites to schedule an appointment, if available.
You do not have to be a Sam's Club member to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine.
Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie's parent company Southeastern Grocers is offering Moderna vaccines to people who are eligible at clinics and pharmacies across Florida.
When appointments become available at Winn-Dixie, you can book them at this link here. The company has a running list of participating clinics and pharmacies at this link here.
A "schedule appointment" button on the company's website will activate if appointments are available.
To save time, people are encouraged to download, print and fill out this COVID-19 vaccine consent form and bring it to the scheduled appointment.
Homebound Veterans
Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management to coordinate with the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to identify veterans of World War II and the Korean War who are unable to travel to receive a vaccine.
Visit this link or call (850) 487-1533, extension 9.
Homebound Residents
The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) will send a survey to homebound residents and then work with Department of Health strike teams to deliver vaccines.
Homebound residents can let FDEM know they are in need by emailing HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com.
Vaccines at home
DeliveRxd Pharmacy is distributing vaccines to people in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties who would like to receive a dose at home — people do not have to be homebound for this option.
Call 813-932-6266 for more.
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