Panama City, FL— Appointments for an expected allotment of 500 COVID-19 vaccines for the week of Feb. 1 will be available online at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 for Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Thursday, Feb. 4 at BayCOVIDVaccines.Eventbrite.com. People who are not 65 years of age or older are asked to assist family members, friends and neighbors who may need help with online registration. A ticket for each eligible person who will receive the vaccine is required, with a maximum of two tickets per order.

“We ask that people who are able to assist eligible family members, friends and neighbors in booking appointments online do so,” Sandon S. Speedling, MHS, CPM, CPH, Administrator and Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health-Bay (DOH-Bay), said.

Speedling said that almost 1,000 seniors who are unable to access the internet are currently on a waiting list for appointments, and no additional appointments may be scheduled by phone at this time.  

Appointments

DOH-Bay is experiencing extremely high call volumes with long wait times, and as an alternative, people with access to the internet may email Bay.COVID@FLHealth.gov.

State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued a Public Health Advisory to prioritizing vaccines for Florida residents and healthcare workers providing services with direct patient contact. To read more click here.

Publix offers COVID-19 vaccinations at all five Bay County locations. To make an appointment, visit https://www.publix.com/covid-vaccine. Their reservation system opens again at 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29 for appointments next week.

DOH-Bay will continue to announce appointment availability through text and email alerts. Sign-up for alerts by texting ‘bayhealth’ to 888777 or visiting https://bit.ly/bayhealthalert. Or, visit BayCOVIDVaccines.Eventbrite.com.

A total of 11,938 Bay County residents have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Of that total, 8,137 are seniors age 65 and older. To read the county-level vaccine report click here.

Please remember that tens of thousands of people are trying to register for a limited number of vaccines. This is a historic mass vaccination effort and it is going to take some time to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated. Patience and understanding are essential and appreciated.

Before Your Appointment

Your appointment time is the time on your ticket. Tickets are sent to the email address provided. Please bring your ticket to your appointment if possible. To prove residency an adult resident must provide a copy of his or her valid Florida driver license or a copy of a valid Florida identification card.

Consent forms for the Moderna vaccine are available at Bay.FloridaHealth.gov. Those making an appointment are encouraged to review the consent information and consult with their healthcare provider before receiving the vaccine. If possible, please print and complete the consent form and bring it to the vaccination appointment.

Anyone who has allergic reactions that require an epi pen should bring it to the appointment. The Centers for Disease Control recommends deferring vaccination if you have received another vaccine in the past 14 days.

Second Dose Information

Starting Jan. 19, those who receive their first dose will be provided with an appointment for the second dose at the time the first dose is administered.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Healthcare Providers

DOH-Bay is also working to provide vaccine to frontline healthcare workers who are not affiliated with a hospital. Please complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Survey if not receiving the vaccine from a parent company or hospital. Providers should coordinate to ensure that there is only one reply per organization.

COVID-19 Vaccine General Information

While the COVID-19 vaccine is a monumental step toward getting this disease under control in Florida, the department continues to encourage common-sense precautions against the spread of the virus, including frequent hand washing, wearing face masks, maintaining six feet of social distancing and staying home when sick.

As additional vaccine supplies become available and the state provides priority groups for vaccinating, DOH-Bay will follow and share those plans. For the most current information on COVID-19 vaccination plans in Florida, please visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/covid-19-vaccines-in-florida/.

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About the Florida Department of Health 

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.