News

Seminole County officials adjust COVID vaccine appointment schedule to reduce “no-shows”

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County’s Emergency Manager says, each day, up to 120 of their COVID-19 vaccines aren’t given out because of appointment “no-shows.”

Alan Harris, the Chief Administrator or the county’s Office of Emergency Management, says they hope to cut down on that number by changing how they schedule appointments.

READ: COVID vaccine wait list: How to claim “extra” doses regardless of age

“A lot of individuals are out shopping for the closest vaccine appointment,” Harris says. “We found people are booking here and other lists and will not cancel with us.”

That’s why Harris says they’re moving the appointment window from 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, to 10 a.m. on Thursdays.

“We want to maximize the amount of people that can get the vaccine here at the site,” Harris says. “So we’re hoping to move it a little closer to the vaccine week we’re actually scheduling appointments...we will cut down on those no-shows.”

READ: Florida reports largest COVID-19 case increase in nearly a month

With the age limit for COVID vaccine eligibility dropping each week, Harris says the good news is that they’ve been pleading with the state for more doses and receiving them.

In the last few weeks, Harris says they’re gotten between 10,000 and 11,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.