Florida Launches Statewide COVID-19 Vaccine Pre-registration Website

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida launched a statewide system Friday for residents 65 and older and frontline medical workers to preregister for coronavirus vaccine appointments.

The state says registrants will be contacted by phone, text or email when vaccine appointments are available in their county and assisted in making appointments to receive their shot. The website is myvaccine.fl.gov.

The state has received some criticism from residents who say its previous system for registering, which varied by county and distributor, was too complicated, particularly for older residents who may not be internet savvy.

For anyone who doesn’t have internet access, each county has a phone number where residents can preregister. That list can be accessed by a friend or relative here.

To be eligible, the person must be a Florida resident or long-term visitor and fall into one of three groups: — Long-term care facility residents and staff;

— 65 years of age and older

— Or health care personnel with direct patient contact.

Hospitals may also vaccinate anyone they deem to be extremely vulnerable to the virus.

Almost 1.7 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida and more than 26,000 have died since the first case was reported March 1.