No appointment needed to get COVID-19 vaccine in St. Johns County, health department says

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – After a day of confusion over COVID-19 vaccines that led to long lines at the St. Johns County Health Department, Jake Quigley, the regional health department chief, told News4Jax that no appointment is needed to get the vaccine.

Cars started lining up at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, hoping to be shot before the office closes at 3:00 p.m.

According to Quigley, the telephone system for scheduling appointments has crashed and there is currently no way to reserve a place. The department’s website stated that all appointments were made for this week, but some of the 280 vaccines given Thursday were for people who had no appointments. Quigley acknowledged that there is confusion and frustration with the department’s distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

There is a huge demand that exceeds the supply of vaccines. Quigley said more than 55,000 people competed for one of just 3,000 vaccines available this morning. It is not clear how many vaccines will be released on Friday.

More than 32 cars queued outside the St. Johns County Health Department at 6:15 am. Officials begin vaccinations at 9 a.m. The department has not indicated that people who could make appointments would receive preferential treatment or would be treated first.

The health department insists on patience.

In Duval, Clay and Putnam counties, health departments have made it clear that people who show up without an appointment will not receive a vaccination shot.