​ Manatee County Struggling To Fill Vaccine Appointments: Report

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Even as the age for vaccine eligibility lowers in Florida, Manatee County is struggling to fill vaccine appointments, ABC Action News reported.

Tom Bennett Park, one of the county’s vaccine distribution site, was closed Friday because of a lack of appointments, reports said.

At the county’s second distribution site, the Public Safety Complex, they were unable to fill all available appointments. Only 730 appointments were made, though 1,200 doses were available that day, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Jake Saur, the county’s public safety director, said 70 percent of those registered to receive the vaccine through Manatee’s registration system do not respond to appointment notifications. Only about 1 in 4 people have received the vaccine, so far, though the county’s goal is for about 75 percent of the population to be vaccinated, reports said.

"Our goal is 75%, so it's a little concerning that we're starting to see a decrease in demand for the vaccine," Saur told ABC Action News.

Staff at Manatee County’s 311 center have reached out to people to learn why they’re not responding.

Operators at the county’s 311 call center reached out to people to find out why they were being unresponsive.

“Of the people that answer, people are saying that are waiting for the Johnson and Johnson or it doesn’t fit in their schedule. But an overwhelming number of people are saying they are waiting for the Johnson and Johnson,” Saur told the Bradenton Herald. “I don’t know when or if we will ever get Johnson and Johnson.”

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As of Monday, Manatee County is offering the vaccine to anyone 40 and older. They’re allowing anybody 18 and older to pre-register for the vaccine, as the minimum age drops to 18 years old April 5.

Those who want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the county can pre-register through the online registration system at vax.mymanatee.org or by calling Manatee County's call center at 311.

For more information on coronavirus vaccines in Florida, see the Florida Patch COVID-19 vaccination page.