Vaccine Tourism

[Carla B]

Was going to add this to the thread, now closed, on foreigners coming to Florida for COVID 19 vaccinations: Vaccine tourism: People are flocking to Florida for their COVID-19 inoculations (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/vaccine-tourism-people-are-flocking-to-florida-for-their-covid-19-inoculations/ar-BB1cTR7x). Is this because their state is following CDC guidelines to vaccinate people over age 75 first, rather than those over 65?

[Bay Kid]

Don't go to Virginia. They have their list. Before many citizens are the correctional centers. Priorities.

[kathyspear]

DeSantis is putting a stop to that:

Health officials in Florida have responded to the growing unease over 'vaccine tourists.'

People seeking a jab in the Sunshine State must now be able to prove local residency.

"We're only doing for Florida residents. You've got to live here either full-time or at least part-time," said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Florida had started offering vaccinations to anyone 65 years old and up without any proof of residency.

There have been concerns that 'snowbirds' were flying south just to get vaccinated, although some of these own property in the state.

That would be a valid reason to get vaccinated in Florida but not for tourists with no ties in Florida.

"That can include people who live here half the year, but it's not for people just visiting," the Governor said.

For several days media reports have published stories of people purportedly flying in for vaccinations.

There are more than four million Florida residents over 65, with some complaining of long waits to get a vaccination appointment.

As of the beginning of the week, just over one million vaccinations have been carried out in Florida.

kathy