COVID Vaccine Sign Up
 

Another hour spent on the Publix site, another unsuccessful attempt at getting an appointment. When Marion County filled, I thought I got registered in Volusia County...I answered a battery of questions, got to the end, submitted and I hit a dead end. Friday is another day. ☹️

Yes - an hour I won't get back either.
At least they updated the website a bit.
What is it with the panhandle? They always are the last to fill.

Friends drove thru the panhandle a couple of weeks ago in their motorhome. They told me that in gas stations and rest areas, the large majority of people weren't wearing masks. At the campground they stayed at, people in the office and other staff were also maskless. So, from what they told me, the majority of folks up there don't need the vaccine, they have a natural immunity. They had paid for 3 nights but left after the first

I lost out too. My wife and I for one hour on two computers. I'd love to know how the priority in line works. Do you have to be on before 6? We were at 0550 and it didn't help. Any info on the county system? We signed up at the beginning and have not heard a thing.

I am pretty sure there is no priority system. Being online before 6 or even at 6 doesn't seem to give you a better chance to get an appointment.

Publix vaccine sign up frustrating but successful
 

I started early but I don't know if that helps. As I refreshed the browser every 10 seconds, or so, I watched the availability numbers drop. After about 45 minutes I got the appointment button. Filled everything in (you'll need your insurance card) and I picked a time, then boom, it was no longer available and the page stopped functioning - I couldn't pick a different time. I hit the back button on my browser till I got to the appointment button and started over. Finally successful after 5 trips through, I picked Volusia County and "Magnolia Plaza" - SUCCESS! Except, that address is in Panama City and the appointment is for 10:12 am on Saturday. Glad I got an appointment but sorry I'll have a 600 mi round trip this weekend and the second 600 mi round trip scheduled for Feb 27.

You don't need your insurance card. Just don't check the insurance selection.

Is there a reasonable explanation to explain why Publix uses 6 am as the time to release appointments?

The panhandle is nothing like the rest of Florida. I lived in Pensacola for six years in the late 70s and early 80s and it's really nice. Same kind of sandy white beaches and blue water as you find in Clearwater, but much less crowded in Pensacola, Ft. Walton, Destin and Panama City Beach without all the snow birds. The only bad time is spring break, Panama City Beach gets it share of college kids.

The panhandle season is the opposite of ours, the summer is the high season with tourist, many are families with kids in school and they come from Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and throughout that region. I remember in the winter going over to Panama City Beach the first time, this was back in 1970 when I was in the Army at Ft. Rucker Alabama, which is just across the state line. I said, who are all these people on the beach in January. They said, Canadians, to them 50 degrees is warm and it's off season here so they can stay cheaper.

Everyone there calls the area 'LA' for Lower Alabama or other nickname is The Redneck Riveria. Mostly Florida State Seminole fans, not big on the Gators. A lot of retired and active duty military, Eglin AFB is at Ft. Walton, Tyndall AFB at PCB and Navy Pensacola, great places for a military retirees to settle. The only big negative is that area seems to get hit by more hurricanes. If it hadn't been for TV, I would probably retired in that area.

https://news.gulfbreezenews.com/wp-c...06-14/26p3.jpg

I was living there in 1977 when Jaws 2 was filmed and the movie company was based at the Holiday Inn at Navarre Beach. I made a couple of trips out to the site, it's halfway between Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach. I saw many of the crew but not any of the actors. That Holiday Inn had a Holidome with shops and restaurants and indoor pool.

The opening scene in the film with the mayor speaking and the band playing was shot inside the Holidome by the pool.

https://news.gulfbreezenews.com/wp-c...06-14/26p4.jpg

Unfortunately in 1995 Hurricane Opal wiped out the Holiday Inn at Navarre Beach. The owners decided not to rebuild and it's no longer there.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/81/21/47/8...75b263c08a.jpg

The lighthouse in the film was actually made of plywood and was built at the tip of Pensacola Beach at Ft. Pickens State Park.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ5rMWcvj...0/IMG_0585.jpg

Sheriff Brody passes by Amity Town Hall.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-podbTrPwq...0/IMG_0588.jpg

It's actually in downtown Pensacola at 410 E. Government St.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yZnvUNCjd...0/IMG_6778.jpg

My guess is that they want to do it outside of their normal business hours. They are also scheduling appointments far enough apart so as to not disrupt their grocery business. I think they are giving the vaccine as a public service, but don't want it to interfere with their main business.

That makes sense. Kroger website in SC has the Covid vaccine appts mixed in with all other vaccines, and for several days the appointment section hasn't been working. Maybe they would do well to adjust their scheduling times to earlier in the day.

Perhaps the panhandle in the central time zone, not as many up at 5am.

I keep telling everyone, companies like Publix, CVS, Walgreens are not equipped to handle mass vaccinations. Vaccinating one person every 10 to 15 minutes it will take years to get everyone vaccinated. The counties need to open mass vaccination sites like stadiums. Fire stations, police stations, schools, etc. once supply is available they need to be vaccinating people at the rate of one every 10 to 20 seconds not minutes. Just like the military. Using retail stores to me is just about money nothing more.

Panama City is in Bay County, not Volusia. Yikes!

We found that if you use auto fill for your address on the Publix vaccine site, be sure to NOT use the 4 digits after the 1st 5 of your zip code. It stalls out your entry.

That makes sense. I tried to access the Publix app one morning during the 6-7am vaccine signup and it was almost non-responsive.

Currently we’re only part time in TV we reside in the Houston TX area.

I see on TV all these crazy stories and read them here too.

I’ve done absolutely nothing to schedule and was waiting patiently for the flurry to die down when last week I get a text from my medical services provider here in Harris county TX which is Methodist saying that I’m next in line for 1st shot this was last Saturday.

Tuesday I get another fax telling me to be at the medical center today at 2:55 to receive my 1st shot and that I’ll be scheduled exactly 3 weeks out for 2nd today.

Mind you I never registered never asked anyone about a shot nothing this is just the quality of Methodist and my PC and Cardiologist there.

I’m Truly amazed that this happened. My wife says I need to get the shot personally I’m not sure about it I have trust issues with my government but I guess I’ll get it and see.

Anyway good luck to all those struggling to get these shots. I’m so happy I just ignored the whole process and waited.

Front page of the paper had another place to sign up for vaccine so signed myself and wife up this am.

No idea how long but frustrated waiting on Sumter County.

My wife and I spent an estimated five hours each on the Publix signup website, but we both did eventually get appointments. Mine was 80 miles roundtrip, hers 210 miles roundtrip - but hey, it's over. We figured we were around number 10,000 in the Sumter County queue so who knows how long that would take.

My husband and I went yesterday to the Amazon Distribution Center in Groveland and was able to secure our second dose of Pfizer vaccine. No appointments you just drive up. It was very well organized and looks like the military is involved. This site is open Monday to Friday. They are only giving second Pfizer doses in the afternoon so if u need the first one you have to go in the morning. Only waited about 35 minutes in the car. Hope this helps you.

COVID vaccine signup:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:. Good luck! 100s thousands competing for few hundred spots.

The Publix system (right now) handles 36,000 doses at a time. My guess is 300,000+ log-ins in the 3 states (FL., GA. & SC.) Not all locations have the equipment in place right now. Thus no Lake or Sumter County locations yet. But they are working on it. They use the resident pharmacists to do the shots 12 minutes apart (5/hour), he still counts pills to fill regular prescriptions too. So each equipped Publix does about 50 shots per day.

They are doing the best they can. They need a big THANKS.

The system is not perfect but was cobbled up in a month so Publix can help save Americans from this death nell.

Don't refresh your browser, your IP address has been logged once you get the "system is live" sentence. Just sit and wait, their server issues "push notifications" to your computer each 60 seconds. Each "notification" now updates how many are still available. If you get in, say at 6:55 AM, you won't have much choice. Dinner time are the last to go, so try that first.

I got my first shot yesterday 7 PM in Marion County. My second appointment is in 4 weeks, same time and location.

Thanks Publix for helping out. No long lines and "Sorry we're out of vaccines, today" after a 3 hour wait. I'd rather wait at home and log in every week.

Skip

All this confusion, inefficiency, and wasted time was preventable by a little foresight and planning. We did not follow CDC guidelines. We made TOO many people eligible at first - before we had the needed experience with the mechanisms of delivering the shots into arms - before we could guarantee that enough vaccine was available. CDC guidelines said hospital and other frontline workers go 1st. Then 75 and over citizens go 2nd as a group. Florida tried for 65 and over which is too large of a group - which caused all this confusion. It would have been better to make 75 and over the 2nd group vaccinated. And only then moved to the 65 and over as the 3rd age group. This makes people question the whole vaccine program and opens up the state to more ridicule on late-night TV with more "Florida man" jokes.

After weeks of trying to get an appointment for a vaccine in several counties without success, I found out yesterday about the new drive-up vaccination site in Groveland, close to forty minutes from my home in The Villages, south on Highway 27. I left home this morning at 4 am. Several dozen cars were already waiting. Three hours later, I got my vaccination. The site is a big new parking lot near a large, not-yet-opened warehouse or box-store. I was pleased by the efficiency with which it was all done. A great many people are working to make this happen, including law enforcement, unarmed National Guard troops, and health care personnel. Thank you to all! I’m much relieved. As I left, I saw there was a line of waiting cars over a mile long, extending hundreds of yards up 27. Leaving home at 4 am wasn’t fun, but neither is a much longer line. I’m glad I went when I did. I’ve read that the site will be giving vaccinations M-F, 8-12 for first vaccines and 1-4 for second injections.

Be patient...by the summer there will be so many free shots there will be hucksters offering gifts if you would accept a 3rd or 4th shot so they can be reimbursed.

Tried twice, wasted an hour and a half or more each time. Got on at 15 seconds past 6:00 AM and still put in the queue. Comcast internet routes out of Leesburg. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

IMO it’s not going to get better until J&J vaccine comes out. It don’t have to be stored in outer space temperature’s and what I read only one dose. Heard on news that around 20% of the 400F below zero vaccine has been spoiled/wasted due to lowest temperature in history vaccine has to stored in and along with transportation nightmare. IMO till there fee charged for shot wait time not going to get better, no money in giving shot just producing it.

IMO maybe next summer.

If they can’t get the vaccine don’t matter. Late night jokes are alway leaning one way on the one way channels.

COVID BINGO AT PUBLIX!!! I got my appointment. 45 minutes into the process, the screen changed and I was in the first of six appointment screens. Selected Marion County on screen 2, but by this time closest was Bellevue. Got thru screens 4, 5, & 6, and it bounced because someone else got the time I selected on screen 5. So then it goes back to screen 3 and all those screening questions have to be answered again. Everything has to be answered again. The choice of location now puts the closest as StJohns County, St Augustine. Two more iterations I wind up at St John’s, Fl, which is somewhere in the direction of St Augustine. It asks if Iwant to make another appointment, so my wife jumps on. Selecting the same area, we get a different selection of stores. Again the five screen bounce-around. She makes an appointment at a different store two hours after mine. Kicker is, hers is over in Santa Rosa County, in the Panhandle. What a crock of you-know-what!

Fourth time sitting 2 hours each on the Publix site. Got mine the first try but finally scored for husband this morning. We're driving six hours each way to Pensacola. Long drive, but it means we can finally visit kids and grandchildren as soon as his second shot kicks in. Really need both of us to get vaccinated for it to really improve our quality of life. Not as bad as a friend who has to drive 11 hours each way to get hers in South Carolina. Figure Escambia County has fewer seniors who qualify since so many residents there are younger or with the military. We didn't have a better choice so we took what we could get and are happy with that.

Wife and I were on the Publix site for 90 minutes this morning starting a few minutes prior to 6:00am - each of us on a separate machine (yeah, I know we were gaming the system). We watched the counties count down to "fully booked" pretty quickly until only the far-outlying ones remained and we gave up.

We then went to the CDR account which does five areas, including Orange and Pasco Counties. We got our #1 and #2 appointments (6 Feb and 1 Mar) within only 15 minutes from log-in at 8:00am to finalized (confirmed) appointments. If you're unfamiliar with the CDR site: CDRM Health It is pretty easy to use and best of all it works. You have to set up an account first so if you want to go that route, create an account now - or at least prior to the day you want to try for an appointment. Then when you want to try for an appointment, log in to the CDR system and you'll choose a site from a map, then you get a list of days and times available for shot #1 and shot #2. We had to make three attempts as the ones we picked first were taken too soon. We learned to pick a time later in the day and a day or two down the list. You will get a page to print right away with your name, appointment data, and the QR Code you'll need at the immunization site. You'll also get an email for each of the two days showing all the data you'll need for your calendar; you also are advised to save the email to show the immunization site to prove your appointment. Had no problem doing that system and like I said, it works! If you've given up on the GMR call-backs and/or the Publix system, I highly recommend the CDR system.

I have just found out the GMR list apparently does not exist.
I did find a Fl. State list that just came out. Hope it works better than GMR did
MyVaccine

Like I said on the other thread, I went on the Publix site at 3:30am this morning and set up three browsers. When it started refreshing every minute, I scrolled down each page searching for the link to register for an appointment. I would have taken anything within a two hour drive, one way but I never got the link to register. I watched as ALL the vacancies disappeared. It must be some random operation, because surely being on there that early would have put me in a good place on line. Next week, I will set it up the day before and leave it running to see if I get an invite to register.
I am not concerned greatly about getting one for myself, but I do want to get my wife vaccinated so she can feel safe about leaving the house. It would be nice to get her's before they lower the age requirement to the younger folks. Competition for the shot will once again be pretty heavy then.
A lot of this is totally chance. As soon as someone mentions a site set up, they are out of serum and closed again before you can check it out. Eventually, everyone will be able to get the vaccination but at the rate things are going right now, being limited to production, it may be next year by the time everyone gets theirs, and then it will start over again. They do not yet know if this immunity will last any longer than the seasonal flu shot.
One thing we do have going for us in Florida is exposure to sunlight. They say the best medicine for this illness is sunshine. And we have plenty of that, here. I've seen many of my neighbors sitting out in their driveways, in the sun.

I don't think it helps to go on the site before it goes "live" at 6 am. And, even then, I don't think the site gives priority treatment to people who are logged on at 6 am vs those who logged on at a later time. Although, the longer you are logged on while appointments are available, the better chance you have to get an appointment. Good luck.

How did you find out the GMR list does not exist? My sister who was on the waitlist to make an appointment with GMR when they were still making appointments DID get a call from the Sumter County Health Department for her first shot. She had her fist shot two days ago at the Wildwood Community Center. Seems to me that list did, in fact, transfer to Sumter County.

I have an appointment for my second shot for February 10. That appointment was made with GMR on their Saferestart website. I'm hoping beyond hope that I will be contacted by Sumter County to keep that appointment and to go to the Wildwood Community Center for my second shot.

I found this posted earlier by someone else....

just finished talking on the phone to a representative at the Florida Department of Health to clarify the statement....

"...Florida Department of Health has taken over the GMR list..."

The only list the FL Dept of Health has taken over is the appointment list and resulting second appointment list.

They have not taken over the "registration" list which is the waiting list to get an appointment. The representative said they do not know what GMR/saferestart future intentions are.

Another non reassuring notification of status.

So for those of us not participating in the "appointment roll of the dice game".....

we wait.....not knowing what to expect.

Just checked the latest update from Sumter County. Sumter County IS using the GMR list. This is the latest update from Sumter County........

1/28/2021 UPDATES ON COVID-19 VACCINATION | Florida Department of Health in Sumter

Ref Post #31.......we registered with CDR Health beginning of the week. News 6 had the story that the Orlando Convention Center would open this morning for appointments at 8 AM. Logged on and within 10 minutes had appointments for first shot on Feb 5 and the 2nd shot Mar 2. 10 minutes later had the confirming text and email. A couple days ago also got the notification that the statewide site was up and running, Just a moment.... You can register for multiple counties but you need to do it one County at a time, tedious but hopefully you will get notified when vaccines are available. Can't speak to the effectiveness of the site only that it exists.

There must be significant numbers of residents who have registered on multiple sites.
This of course inflates the real demand.
Hopefully increasing availability and more sites with more dates will make this a short term problem.

I don't know the system, but had my computer on at 4:30am. Turned the cell phone on at 5:55 (not using Wifi). They were refreshing at one second difference when I got in with my cell. Didn't ever get the computer to register an opening. It seems that you have to be lucky at the refresh.

More frustrating was that since every county close to Sumter was closed, we chose St. Johns County (St. Augustine) only to find that when we chose a location, we found out it was already closed by the time I hit the final button.

So, we are driving to Ft. Walton Beach for our appointments...and neither in the same pharmacy. Our appointments are 30 minutes apart, but the distance is 37.5 miles which is a physical impossibility. So we'll divide our time and wait at one pharmacy for an extra amount.

Question: Is it worth it? I don't know at this point. We're registered on every potential website that's published, including the initial GMR for Sumter county. We'll also spend one night in a hotel since an 11 hour drive is just a little too much for us. But we'll have the first dose. Second one is scheduled exactly one month later so we'll do this same routine.

PS... This was our third attempt at obtaining the vaccine at Publix. Keep trying.