WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County announced Tuesday that residents 65 and older can call to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, but the number didn’t work at noon.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Coronavirus
DOH posted a number, 561-625-5180, on their website, but spokesman Alex Shaw later said the hotline is currently unavailable and they are working to resolve the issues.
“Our appointment line can only take 150 calls at a time and is currently overwhelmed,” said Shaw.
Palm Beach County Health Dept. says the phone line for seniors to make vaccination appointments is unavailable after they were “overwhelmed” with phone calls.
– Matt Sczesny WPTV (@WPTVMatt) December 29, 2020
Health officials said they were encouraged by the high demand for the vaccine, but limited doses are available.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County said they are expanding their infrastructure to meet high demand.
A tweet from the department then instructed people to “call back next week.”
Our appointment line is overwhelmed. The number is correct. Please call back next week.
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The DOH in Palm Beach County is currently focused on fulfilling all current appointments and completing primary care health workers’ vaccinations.
Patients are encouraged to speak with their primary care physician to answer questions about the vaccine before receiving it.
Dr. David Dodson said on Tuesday that demand for the vaccine is growing.
“Our office is currently inundated with phone calls from people who want to get the vaccine,” Dodson said.
Dr. Alina Alonso, the head of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, said earlier this month that the Moderna vaccine will be distributed in the province.
Health workers in several hospitals in the province started to be vaccinated last week.
“Doctors ‘offices have to be registered with Florida SHOTS, which is the statewide vaccine registry, and then assume that once the vaccine is available, it will go to the doctors’ offices and the CVS and Walgreens pharmacies for distribution,” Dodson said.
He expects this to likely happen sometime between February and April, depending on how soon vaccines can be made and whether more drug manufacturers get approval.
Dr. Larry Bush of the Palm Beach County Medical Society is an investigator on the trial for AstraZeneca’s vaccine.
“At least the advantage of these vaccines coming to an end, now that AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, is that the AstraZeneca … has already made millions upon millions of doses and is ready to ship. Second, no special shipping is required. It can keep in the fridge for six months, ”Bush said.
Doctors think large-scale vaccination can take place in the spring.
Those who have additional questions about the vaccine can call 1-866-779-6121 or email [email protected].