Sarasota County COVID-19 vaccine distribution

SARASOTA, Fla. - After several different phases of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, all adults in Sarasota County are now eligible for the vaccine. 

Floridians have any different vaccine options available to them, from federal sites to county- and state-run locations, and many commercial providers. Some locations don’t even require an appointment anymore.

Starting 5 p.m. Monday, April 12, the online registration system will no longer accept new accounts. Current registrants will still be able to view their account, and the system will continue to schedule appointment notifications through the existing list of registrants. 

County health officials will begin offering a walk-up, no-appointment needed, first-dose clinics 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sarasota Square Mall on Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10. Individuals arriving to these clinics with scheduled appointments will not have to wait in the walk-up line. 

Individuals receiving their first dose during the DOH-Sarasota walk-up clinics at Sarasota Square Mall will be provided a second-dose appointment date and will not receive a second-dose notification. These individuals should pay close attention to the information packet received at the vaccination clinic and continue to monitor the DOH-Sarasota and county websites, and county social media as they will not receive a reminder notice.

What you'll need to be vaccinated in Sarasota County:

• An appointment. Online registration is available through the Everbridge site.
• An Everbridge account, to register for your appointment. This is a different registration than the Everbridge event for COVID-testing. Here's how to get one:  https://www.facebook.com/SRQCountyGov/posts/2084997931635538?__cft__[0]=AZXlSMX5oupzQOT_5xle43T9YwgU91i-qLzQ_YZpd3vCZ0NS3prpqZhYogTotnLF_253BmlejOhOmVgFo58m0Rfa2HMiD07CkRdwsBf_rEb-oAZCXCCK87dXqyYWAzA1ITntEUSBRRfEWz8uYJATMENj4X8bm9UaZ3753Iyj8mnMWA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
• Employment and/or age verification in the form of government and/or employee ID
• A printed and complete consent form, which is available at http://sarasota.floridahealth.gov/_files/_documents/2020/_documents/consent-form-12-292020.pdf.
• To be in Sarasota County for at least 28 days after your first dose, in order to receive the second dose.

Vaccinations will be given by appointment only.

Individuals are required to get two doses of the vaccine, 28 days apart. The Florida Department of Health - Sarasota County says you must remain in Sarasota County to receive your second shot.

Once appointment notifications go out, individuals who receive them have two hours to confirm or decline their appointment. If an individual declines, they do not lose their place in the queue and will be contacted for the next available clinic. 

It is encouraged to add the following information to your contacts for appointment notifications: 

• Phone calls will display the caller ID 941-861-8297.
• Emails will display from Department of Health in Sarasota County COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System (DOHcovid19vaccine@scgov.net).
• Text (SMS) messages will show sender ID 88911. 

Vaccines will be administered at the William L. Little Health and Human Services building located at 2200 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota 34327.

Additional locations will be announced when more vaccine and vaccinators become available.

Download and complete the Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form and bring it to your appointment in order to be vaccinated.

Must confirm or decline

Beginning March 25, individuals receiving an appointment notice must confirm or decline the notice. 

DOH-operated first-dose clinics at Sarasota Square Mall Monday, March 29, Tuesday, March 30 and Wednesday, March 31. The system has scheduled through account number 189,998.

DOH-operated second-dose clinics at Sarasota Square Mall Monday, March 29, Tuesday, March 30 and Wednesday, March 31 for those who received their first-dose of Moderna from DOH March 1 -3. 

If an individutal declines twice, the individual is removed from the queue, meaning they are taken out of line. This will prevent them from receiving appointment notices until they confirm with the Registration Team they would like to return back in queue. Individuals can do so by calling the Registration Team at 941-861-VAXS (8297) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and through county social media direct message @SRQCountyGov, or in-person at the vaccine registration and information station in the mall clinic.

Statewide preregistration system

The state of Florida is offering a statewide registration system to help schedule COVID-19 vaccines. Residents can pre-register for vaccine appointments and be notified when appointments are available in their area by:

• Internet: Visiting myvaccine.fl.gov
• Phone: Call your local county number listed on this page.

Private retailers offering vaccines in Florida

These businesses are offering COVID-19 vaccines at some of their locations in Florida. They generally follow the guidelines laid out by Gov. DeSantis, but you need to register separately for an appointment with the retailer directly, separate from any state or county registration. Click on a link below for more information.

• Publix
• Walmart & Sam's Club
• Winn-Dixie
• CVS Pharmacy
• Walgreens Pharmacy

Federal vaccine sites

Federal vaccine sites in Tampa, Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville are open until at least May 26 as part of a partnership with FEMA, the Department of Defense, and state health offices. Click here for specific locations.

According to the governor’s office, each site will administer 2,000 vaccines per day, seven days a week. Each allocation will also support two smaller, mobile satellite sites that will each deliver 500 vaccinations per day in underserved areas. The will use the existing myvaccine.fl.gov registration system.

The FEMA sites follow President Joe Biden's guidelines, meaning teachers, school staff, and daycare workers of all ages are eligible.

LINK: COVID-19 vaccine distribution information in Tampa Bay area counties

COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida:

On December 23, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Executive Order 20-315, which states: During this first phase of vaccine administration, all providers administering any COVID-19 vaccine shall only vaccinate the following populations:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff;
• persons 65 years of age and older;
• and health care personnel with direct patient contact.

Hospitals, however, also may vaccinate persons who they deem to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Governor DeSantis also announced that in addition to hospitals, county health departments will begin vaccinating individuals 65 and older in the coming weeks as supply permits. Each county health department will work directly with their community partners to notify the community when vaccine doses are available and will provide information about what will be needed to register for vaccination.

Florida has launched a COVID-19 Vaccine Report that will be updated daily at FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov. This report includes a breakdown of who has received the vaccine by age, race, sex and county.

If you feel sick:

The Florida Department of Health has opened a COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Agents will answer questions around the clock. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.

LINK: Florida's COVID-19 website

CORONAVIRUS IN FLORIDA: What you need to know

AROUND THE WORLD: CoronavirusNOW.com