ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Update 7:15 p.m. 12/31/2020:
Action News Jax obtained a copy of a letter the Chair of the St. Johns Board of County Commissioners sent to the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County requesting they assist the DOH in their vaccination efforts.
Part of the letter said:
“Since the Department of Health began their vaccination program earlier this week, the Board of County Commissioners has been inundated with questions, concerns, and complaints regarding the lack of available public information and program management. As such, St. Johns County is once again requesting that the Department of Health in St. Johns County strongly reconsider and accept our offer of partnership and assistance to expand and expedite the distribution of vaccines to the public with this and all future allocations in accordance with State of Florida executive order 20-315 and all subsequent State guidance.”
Below is the full copy of the letter sent to the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County.
123120.Blocker.doh by ActionNewsJax on Scribd
Original story:
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout was underway today in St. Johns County. Action News Jax got video as hundreds of people waited in line in their cars for the shot at the health department.
Some seniors said the process to register for the vaccine has been anything but easy.
Dewitt Henley told Action News Jax he’d been waiting for about three hours for his vaccine.
St. Johns County announced it had vaccines, but never said when scheduling appointments went live. Yesterday, it announced 3,000 vaccine appointments to get the shot were full.
”I just registered on the PC,” Henley said, adding that he’s not sure his registration went through properly. “I hadn’t heard any more from them.”
Joan and Charles Baumann, who were not at the vaccination rollout, told Action News Jax they weren’t able to register.
”None of the rest of us over 65 have any clue as to how to do this,” Joan said.”And just by word of mouth you go down to St. Augustine and get the vaccine? It’s like that’s not the way it should be rolled out. You go online and it’s like, nope nothing is going on,” Charles added.
Action News Jax emailed and called the local health department, only to get a busy line.
As for the Baumanns and Henley, they say they just want their vaccines and some peace of mind.
St. Johns County tells Action News Jax it isn’t running the operation; it’s merely assisting.
RELATED STORIES:
COVID-19 vaccine: Trying to make an appointment in Duval County? Call back Monday
Coronavirus: Putnam County releases COVID-19 vaccination plan
Cox Media Group
