Florida has received nearly three times as many COVID-19 vaccines as it has administered, CDC says

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As many people wait to get the first COVID-19 vaccine, others are now trying to get their second dose, and some are wondering if they’ll be able to get their second shot.

Orange County Health Director Dr. Raul Pino couldn’t give a yes or no answer.

“I know there are some concerns about … ‘will you have enough for a second dose?’ And the short answer is, I hope,” Pino said.

READ: Demand for COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County exceeding available doses, health officials say

State numbers show almost 40,000 people have received their first and second dose for the vaccine so far, but the state site also shows more than 11,397 people are overdue for the second doses.

This past weekend at an area church, Gov. Ron DeSantis explained how the process to get a second dose would work. He said everyone would get a card, and in four weeks later they would return for their second dose.

READ: Florida reports more than 11,500 new COVID-19 cases as resident death toll tops 23,000

However, that may not be happening everywhere. In an email, a Sumter County woman said she has no idea when she will get the second one.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, as of Monday, 1,661,675 doses had been distributed to Florida; but state data shows only 587,956 have been vaccinated, including those who have received the first and second dose.

DeSantis continues to ask for patience, saying there will come a point where more people can get the vaccine.

READ: Orlando Health aims to expand community access with incoming shipments of COVID-19 vaccine

But what about those million or so doses the CDC says belong to the state? An email to the Department of Emergency Management asking that question went unanswered on Monday.

Florida ranks the same as Texas for the number of vaccines used and distributed statewide.