Race Is On Sunday To Get Vaccine Appointment In Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Pasco County residents age 65 and up who want an appointment for a coronavirus vaccine will have an opportunity to get one Sunday - if they're quick enough.

The next opportunity to register for a vaccination appointment through the Department of Health-Pasco is Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.

All appointments are generally filled within five minutes after the Pasco County vendor, CDR Maguire Health & Medical, opens its vaccination appointment patient portal.

DOH-Pasco continues to use CDR Maguire Health & Medical to schedule residents for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Before getting an appointment for a vaccine, residents must go on the CDR Maguire Patient Portal or call 1-844-770-8548 to create an account.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., residents age 65 and up can go back to the CDR Maguire Patient Portal or call the phone number to try to get one of the coveted appointments at either the former Sears at Gulf View Square mall, 9409 U.S. 19, Port Richey, or Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52.

The DOH-Pasco vaccination sites do not show up on the CDR Maguire Patient Portal unless appointments are still available.

Anyone who received his or her first dose of the vaccine through DOH-Pasco 28 days ago or more and has not received a second dose can go to either location to receive their second dose. No appointment is required. They must bring a photo ID and the vaccination card they were given when they received their first dose.

The amount of vaccine shots the county receives each week varies. Last week, there were 5,100 shots available.

If all appointments are taken Sunday, there are other ways to obtain a vaccination.

"We have seen an expansion of vaccine distribution locations over the past several days," said Mike Napier, DOH-Pasco health officer. "Publix and other retail pharmacies are now offering vaccines at their locations."

Publix is offering vaccinations at 19 locations in Pasco County. In addition, vaccines are being offered at Winn-Dixie and Walmart stores in Pasco County.

Register on the state's vaccination portal at https://myvaccine.fl.gov/. Residents will be notified when an appointment is available at Publix, Winn-Dixie or Walmart. To find which locations are offering the vaccines, visit the Florida Vaccination Locator.

Additionally, over the past several weeks, Pasco County Emergency Management has coordinated the distribution of 6,752 vaccines to people age 65 years and older in retirement communities.

DOH-Pasco is also working with large medical groups that have agreements in place to vaccinate their staff and their senior clients.

To date, 34,647 Pasco residents have received a first dose of the vaccine and 22,624 have received both a first and second dose.

These include:

• Age 65-74 years - 16,902
• Ages 75-84 years - 10,284
• Ages 85+ years - 2,826

A total of Pasco County had 32,289 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began with 2,136 people hospitalized and 630 deaths.

The number of positive cases in Pasco County in the past week has varied, making it difficult to detect a trend:

• Thursday - 134 cases
• Wednesday - 113 cases
• Tuesday - 168 cases
• Monday - 121 cases
• Sunday - 111 cases
• Saturday - 126 cases
• Friday - 135 cases

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• Pasco County Seniors: Here's Another Shot At A Vaccine Shot
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• Stephen King Got Vaccinated In Pasco; What Are Your Chances?
• Walmart And Winn-Dixie Will Offer COVID-19 Vaccines In Florida
• AdventHealth Now Vaccinating Pasco Residents With Health Issues