Nearly 200,000 Pasco Residents Age 65 And Up Still Not Vaccinated

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has just made it tougher for the nearly 200,000 Pasco County residents age 65 and up who are struggling to get appointments for coronavirus vaccines.

On Friday, DeSantis announced that he was opening up vaccine eligibility to all residents age 50 and up on Monday.

This means the 192,444 residents age 65 and up who are still awaiting the vaccine will have to compete for appointments with 72,013 more residents age 50 to 64.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 301,758 residents age 65 and up living in Pasco County. Less than half of these residents (109,314 people) have received first and second doses of vaccines as of Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Eligible residents will have another chance to try to get a vaccine appointment Sunday at 2 p.m. by accessing the CDR Maguire Health & Medical patientportalfl.com or calling 1-844-770-8548. Appointments cannot be booked at any other time in Pasco County.

Residents should set up an account on the patient portal before attempting to get an appointment. An account can be set up at any time.

The Department of Health-Pasco vaccination sites will not appear on the CDR Maguire patient portal until appointments are available. And the Pasco County-DOH doesn't keep a waiting list of those wanting to be vaccinated. Residents have to call or go online every Sunday to try to get an appointment.

With the increased eligibility, the health department expects appointments to fill quickly on Sunday.

Pasco County Populations

• Age 50 to 65: 72,013 or 13 percent of the population
• Age 65 to 69: 117,826 or 22.9 percent of the population
• Age 70 to 74:83,967 or 16.3 percent of the population
• Age 75 to 79: 53,381 or 10.4 percent of the population
• Age 80 to 84: 30,734 or 6 percent of the population
• Age 85 and up: 15,850 or 3.1 percent of the population

Appointments are mandatory to receive a vaccination at the county-run drive-thru vaccination sites at Gulf View Square mall in Port Richey and Saint Leo University.

The Saint Leo University site is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The former Sears site at Gulf View Square mall is open for vaccines Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents are required to have photo identification when checking in at the vaccination sites. If the resident used the online patient portal, he or she should bring a printed or digital copy of the confirmation email containing a QR code as well.

If you received your first dose of the vaccine through DOH-Pasco 28 days ago or more and have not received or missed an appointment for your second dose, go to the same location where you received your first dose with your ID and vaccination card to receive the second dose. No appointment is needed.

Residents who are under 50 years old and have a health condition that makes them vulnerable to the coronavirus should obtain a completed Department of Health Extreme Vulnerability Form from their physician to obtain a vaccination.

In addition to the county's two drive-thru vaccination sites, there are 23 other locations in Pasco County where eligible residents can be vaccinated.

• Publix at Arbor Square at Connerton, 7830 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes
• Publix at Chelsea Place, 1346 Seven Springs Blvd., New Park Richey
• Publix at Collier Commons, 2121 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
• CVS Pharmacy, 1929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Hays Road Town Center, 14851 State Road 52, Hudson
• Publix at Hollybrook Plaza, 5400 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Mitchell Ranch Plaza, 3100 Little Road, Trinity
• Publix at River Crossing, 5324 Little Road, New Port Richey
• Publix at Regency Crossings, 7037 Ridge Road, Port Richey
• Publix at Riverwalk Crossings, 1140 Ridge Road, New Port Richey
• County-run site at Gulf View Square, 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey
• Publix at the Shoppes at New Tampa, 1920 County Road 581, Wesley Chapel
• Publix at the Shoppes at Trinity Lakes, 12500 State Road 54, Odessa
• Publix at the Shoppes of Golden Acres, 9850 Little Road, New Port Richey
• Winn-Dixie, 1640 U.S. 19, Holiday
• Winn-Dixie, 27301 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Southgate Shopping Center, 5127 U.S. 19 S., New Port Richey
• County-run site at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52, St. Leo
• Publix at Starkey Ranch Town Square, 13589 State Road 54, Odessa
• Publix at Summertree Plaza, 32765 Eiland Blvd., Zephyrhills
• Publix at The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre, 18901 State Road 54, Lutz
• Publix at The Shoppes of Dade City, 11830 U.S. 301, Dade City
• Publix at Tower Oaks Terrace, 12101 Little Road Hudson
• Walmart, 28500 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
• Publix at Zephyr Commons, 7838 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills

Click here an appointment at Publix.
Click here for an appointment at Winn-Dixie.
Click here for an appointment at CVS.
Click here for an appointment at Walmart.

Residents can get vaccinated without an appointment at the Federal Emergency Management Agency vaccination site at the former Tampa Greyhound Race Track at 755 E. Waters Ave. in Sulphur Springs. It is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., administering 2,000 vaccines a day.

As of Saturday, the positivity rate in Pasco County is 5.39 percent. Since the pandemic was declared a year ago, 35,248 Pasco residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. Of those, 2,317 residents required hospitalization and 680 people have died.

In response to fewer people seeking COVID-19 testing, the DOH-Pasco is now only providing testing on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Sears in the Gulf View Square mall. Testing is not provided at Saint Leo University.

See related stories:

• Pasco County's Coronavirus Positivity Rate Down To 5 Percent
• No Wait For Vaccinations At Federal Site In Tampa
• Federal Sites To Vaccinate Teachers 50 And Up, Law Enforcement
• Governor Hosts Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic So Pasco County Can Catch Up