Florida launches platform to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccine appointments: How to sign up

Florida is offering a new way for state residents to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The platform allows eligible residents to sign up to be contacted when new appointments become available. But not all Central Florida counties say they are participating in the system.

READ: Here’s where to find the COVID-19 vaccine in your county

“If you’re over 65 or a frontline healthcare worker, and when appointments become available, the system will reach out to you to help schedule,” Florida Division of Emergency Management director Jared Moskowitz said.

As of now, the website says it will allow anyone who meets at least one of the qualifications below to register:

• People over the age of 65.
• Long-term care facility residents and staff.
• Health care personnel with direct patient contact.
• People deemed “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19.

READ: First UK coronavirus variant cases found in Central Florida: What you need to know about each new variant

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But Channel 9 reporter Deanna Allbrittin discovered that on the last page of the registration form, it still states only people over the age of 65 are being scheduled for vaccination appointments.

The website reminds Florida residents that vaccines are in limited supply, and outlines the state’s weekly distribution plan for Florida counties determined by the federal government’s allocations to the state. The state advises residents to check the site often, as additional appointment time slots and immunization locations are updated on a regular basis.

READ: Orange County COVID vaccine portal closes after 30 minutes

But people looking to get vaccinated in Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties should know that those counties say they are not participating in the new system.

Officials in Osceola, Lake, Brevard and Flagler said they are participating, and officials in Marion, Sumter and Polk counties have not confirmed to Channel 9 whether they are participating or not.

READ: January already holds record for deadliest month in Florida since the pandemic began: See the latest numbers

“We’re not going to be the first with this system,” Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris said. “We want other counties to, to launch it, fix all the bugs, then come to us, and then we’ll evaluate it.”

Officials said people looking to get vaccinated in the counties that are not participating are asked to go through their local counties the way they have been to make appointments.

Those interested in pre-registering though the state can click here to sign up.

For those who are not comfortable using a computer to sign up, there are hotlines available in each county. See the full list of phone numbers below.

More information regarding COVID-19 immunization is available by phone at 866-201-6909 (or 833-476-1031 for TTY users).

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