Orlando FEMA vaccination site sees steady demand, others across the state off to slower start

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site at Valencia College’s West Campus ran out of vaccines by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, two hours before the site was scheduled to close.

But numbers show that not all FEMA vaccination sites in the state are doing quite as well. Some are not seeing the demand needed to hand out all their doses before closing each day.

READ: Two new COVID-19 satellite vaccination sites announced; starting March 11

The four FEMA sites in the state, including in Orlando, got off to a slow start on day one, dolling out only about 6,500 of the 12,000 doses they were able to administer.

The locations got more crowded after the federal government allowed teachers of all ages and people with a note from their doctor to get vaccinated.

READ: Floridians age 60 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine starting next week

As of yesterday, more than 18,000 shots have been given out at the Orlando site in the week it’s been open.

In Jacksonville though, the site at the Gateway Mall can do 2,000 vaccines daily but has yet to max out since opening.

Since March 3, the site has administered approximately 4,900 vaccines, less than half of its supply.

READ: Florida reports 4,400 new COVID-19 cases as CVS expands vaccination locations

In Tampa, between the mass vaccination site and two satellite locations, more than 3,000 doses have gone unused since last Wednesday.

In Miami on Saturday, workers were vaccinating people whether they were eligible or not. Some suspect this was because it was slow. But things picked up there on Monday.

READ: All school staff can now make COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Orange County Convention Center

So far, FEMA isn’t saying any adjustments would be made at the sites because the lines could look different next week following the governor’s announcement that people 60 and over could get the vaccine.