Those who have been vaccinated worry about rollout of second dose

Reporter: Breana Ross Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Credit: WINK News.

Those lucky enough to have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Southwest Florida are just as concerned and worried about where and how they will be able to get their second dose.

Lee County plans to stick with an appointment system for the second dose, and says it’s still working on details.

In Collier County, you should expect an email 21 days after your first vaccine to get a second dose.

Charlotte County doesn’t anticipate anyone needing their second dose next week, but it hopes to have appointments available.

After waiting in a line for hours in Bonita Springs, Joan and Steven Goldman know they are two of the lucky ones.

“We were offered a ticket, and the ticket was for standby, and we didn’t know if we were going to get a vaccine or not, but we luckily did get it,” Joan said.

They traded in their golden ticket for a card with a date for their second dose Jan. 26, but there is no confirmed place, time or guarantee.

“It’s very anxiety producing because you don’t know that you’re going to get the second shot,” Steven said.

The Goldmans are not the only ones feeling so close but so far from immunity.

Sally Harrison-Pepper and Harry Scott both got their first doses at sites in Lee County. Both have underlying conditions, and both have a lot of concerns about not getting that second shot they need to be safe.

“What are we supposed to do?” Harrison-Pepper said. “Are we supposed to deal with a phone line like there was today, and for them to say, ‘Oh, sorry about your luck. You’re not getting the second dose?’”

“I am a cancer survivor, and I have other surgical issues,” Scott said. “Being one of the people that did get up there and stand in line, I’m happy that I have it. I’m just hoping I will be able to get the second one in the right time frame.”

Lee County says it’s exploring all options for the second dose of the vaccine, but there is no plan set in stone yet.

“We’re working out the logistics to determine the very best way to do that expeditiously and not mix first and second dose individuals together,” said Angela Smith with Florida Department of Health in Lee County.

DOH-Lee says it will continue to administer vaccines in community-based settings and in its clinics by appointment. The health department anticipates using some of the sites it already used for distribution. It says it will share the details for distribution of the second dose as soon as it’s finalized.


RESOURCE: WINK News is working by the minute on a daily basis to bring our coverage areas in Southwest Florida the latest COVID-19 vaccine information from the counties you live in.

Visit our COVID-19 vaccine schedules and information for SWFL story for rolling vaccine updates.

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