How were the Publix Locations for the Vaccine chosen?
 

As I was trying to schedule the vaccine one of the Publix sites, I wondered where many of the counties were located in case we didn't get Marion County (which we didn't). Oddly, the counties are along both coastlines (St. Augustine down to Miami); Panhandle, and Clearwater to Ft. Myer. Obviously these are major cities located in these counties; however, it occurred to me that these are major counties with major tourism emphasis. When Governor DeSantis stated that the vaccines were targeted toward health care workers and those 65 & over, he obviously didn't allocate any to Sumter County. Yes, he did allocate for Marion county, but it's a very large county with high positivity. It made sense for an interior county. If there are other obvious reasons that more wasn't allocated to a major retirement community, please share. Still relatively new to TV, so trying to understand the politics.

:shrug::shrug::shrug:

The Publix stores were probably chosen by Publix, and they selected stores that wouldn't cause a disruption to their grocery business. They don't seem to be having any trouble scheduling appointments for all of the vaccine doses that they are allocated by the state.

We have had our first shot and scheduled for our 2nd on Saturday at the Publix at Churchill Square. Easy Peasy. No lines and very efficient. Whole process very well run.

Maybe there are no Publix sites offered in Sumter Co. because the agreement with GMR was either in the works or already set up? The State of Fl and Publix first held a trial run in Citrus, Hernando and Marion Counties and GMR opened reservations on Jan. 10th I believe.

My wife and me finally got in this morning after our fifth morning of trying. We first tried Marion, after I selected Mulberry it was taken, then I tried Ocala and it was taken, by then Citrus which is Inverness was gone, and Hernando which is Brooksville was gone. I finally got us both appointments in Deland, which is in Volusia County. They had 2100 available when they began, so they lasted awhile.

Deland is about 60 miles via 25, to 42 to 44 and just over an hour. We have different days, my wife goes next Tuesday and I go next Thursday and they two different Publix stores about five miles apart. I might take I-4 south to the 408 to the Turnpike coming back when my wife goes, because her appointment is at 4:30 and I don't like driving through woods on 42 at night because of bears and deer inhabit those areas.

My wife and I received our 2nd shot at Publix in Ocala last night. We were in the test in Marion county before GMR started. We found it to be very well organized. I have two friends who got in later in January. I agree it takes patience to get an appointment but I believe this will ease as more are vaccinated. As to traveling to other counties to get shots, I feel it is a personal decision. I still travel across the southeast US for work and could be exposed. This made it important for me. You may want to wait. All web sites are improving their user experience. Which should reduce the frustration and allow you to stay in the bubble. I agree there is not a lot of need to have Publix doing vaccinations in TV when GMR can do larger numbers. Good luck to all in getting a shot.

I also went to Deland. I used it as an opportunity to visit Essex House Seafood in Astor on my way home. Essex House is owned and operated by a couple from Massachusetts. A brother of the wife owns one in Essex, MA. Fresh seafood is sent down daily.

For me, being from Massachusetts, it's like a little slice of home in Florida.

If you like fried whole belly clams or lobster or any other kind of seafood, it's the place to go.

The process at Publix was very efficient by the way.

Been trying since Jan 11 to get an appt with whoever. No luck and it is getting wearing some. Maybe in Sept it will be easier.

When I finally got my appointments thru Publix a couple of weeks ago, I chose a county away from the Villages. Figured most wouldn't want to drive too far. Seems I was right. I chose Flager county and the Publix in Palm Coast. About 80 miles, nice roads, scenery.

Exactly. Plus, the selected Publix has to have a pharmacy. Not all do.

Sounds like you have it figured out. Notice the huge allotment for Palm Beach Cty each time?

I heard that the reason we didn’t get it in the Sumter county stores is because our health department wanted to do it! They certainly have not done as good a job! It’s fine when you are closer to 65 and can drive but we have so many people here who cannot drive far or do not have a computer or who would not be able to be successful on the Publix web site!

But when will GMR set up and get back to the people that signed up in mid January? This is ridiculous that we have drive all around to find a place that has the vaccine.

I am glad it is not my decision. Truth be told, there is far more demand than supply.
No matter what is decided some will object. Some are even valid.

Priority? I have a VALID pre-existing health issue and am over 70. To date, we have not gotten our first shot or won the lotteries for an appointment. My doctor, we called his office and were informed that a best guess is they will get vaccines in in march.

I don't think it's so much political as government. Tie the government into anything and it ends up being a cluster screw-up. On top of that, The Villages is not an incorporated town. Regardless of the size of the community, I don't really perceive that we have very much political influence.

I imagine Publix just did what was best for their business operation.

I hope the supply catches up to demand soon enough so it's not an issue.

I noticed yesterday Palm Beach County started off with 4,100 doses, but I didn't want to drive 3 hours each way, so I took Volusia County and Deland.

Got mine at Publix in Ocala

Google Florida counties map and you will see all the counties and where they are located.

The day after we finally got our first appointment and received the first shot, I received a text message from the VA clinic asking me if I wanted to set up an appointment for next week to get my COVID vaccination. I just asked them last week when they might start giving the shots and they said they did not know. You never know so you might as well take advantage of whatever slot you can get for your shot.

Thanks, from MA also.

Sumter County has the highest number of people who have gotten at least their first shot per captia of all the counties in Florida. It is doing better than Lake or Marion counties but, of course, Sumter has a higher number of seniors than those counties do.

This information is buried in in the State Vaccination report (http://ww11.doh.state.fl.us/comm/_pa...ort_latest.pdf) if you want to do some calculations using county populations.

At least first shot vaccinations:

Sumter County 18209.1 per 100,000 People
St. Johns County 16038.2 per 100,000 People
Indian River County 14268.6 per 100,000 People
Jefferson County 13933.7 per 100,000 People
Martin County 13679. per 100,000 People
Nassau County 12981.2 per 100,000 People
Palm Beach County 12727.9 per 100,000 People
Gulf County 12633.1 per 100,000 People
Lake County 12485.8 per 100,000 People
Collier County 12412.6 per 100,000 People
Madison County 12081.7 per 100,000 People
Flagler County 11895.6 per 100,000 People
Franklin County 11691.2 per 100,000 People
Sarasota County 11586.8 per 100,000 People
Gadsden County 11241.2 per 100,000 People
Citrus County 11123.8 per 100,000 People
Wakulla County 11079.8 per 100,000 People
Santa Rosa County 11001.6 per 100,000 People
Leon County 10989.2 per 100,000 People
Calhoun County 10697. per 100,000 People
Jackson County 10440.5 per 100,000 People
Charlotte County 10179.4 per 100,000 People
Marion County 10139.4 per 100,000 People
Lee County 9905.95 per 100,000 People
Volusia County 9651.72 per 100,000 People
Monroe County 9533.83 per 100,000 People
Duval County 9396.17 per 100,000 People
Escambia County 9393.16 per 100,000 People
St. Lucie County 9249.97 per 100,000 People
Liberty County 9230.58 per 100,000 People
Brevard County 9138.72 per 100,000 People
Pinellas County 9103.76 per 100,000 People
Suwannee County 9049.36 per 100,000 People
Hernando County 8896.6 per 100,000 People
Seminole County 8882.45 per 100,000 People
Gilchrist County 8814.47 per 100,000 People
Okaloosa County 8539.54 per 100,000 People
Taylor County 8447.07 per 100,000 People
Lafayette County 8415.1 per 100,000 People
Manatee County 8409.08 per 100,000 People
Holmes County 8202.24 per 100,000 People
Broward County 8161.88 per 100,000 People
Hamilton County 8128.72 per 100,000 People
Bay County 8094.25 per 100,000 People
Clay County 7591.91 per 100,000 People
Bradford County 7557.19 per 100,000 People
Columbia County 7548.14 per 100,000 People
DeSoto County 7479.27 per 100,000 People
Pasco County 7433.89 per 100,000 People
Levy County 7428.7 per 100,000 People
Highlands County 7191.61 per 100,000 People
Miami-Dade County 7039.91 per 100,000 People
Okeechobee County 6975.09 per 100,000 People
Baker County 6925.6 per 100,000 People
Union County 6688.99 per 100,000 People
Putnam County 6503.48 per 100,000 People
Hillsborough County 6454.84 per 100,000 People
Polk County 6135.44 per 100,000 People
Dixie County 6011.23 per 100,000 People
Hendry County 5370.79 per 100,000 People
Hardee County 4999.64 per 100,000 People
Glades County 4476.96 per 100,000 People
Osceola County 259.574 per 100,000 People
Orange County 55.7399 per 100,000 People

YES!
Marion County had a couple of hundred and Palm Beach County
had 10,000. :ohdear:

number of vaccines in Palm Beach
 

Yes, they get 2,000 for Palm Beach City and we get 200 for Sumter County. It is getting better now tho.

GMR has already sent e-mails to the people who have registered with them.

My brother in law got his shots at the VA in Phoenix - started 1 month ago.

Where is Churchill Square? For myself don’t really need that info as I received both vaccines in Lake County. My hubby received his two vaccines in the VA in Palm Beach County. But I was just curious as to that location for others who may benefit.

Google is your friend: Let Me Google That :jester:

That is awesome! How did you do that?

EDIT: Got it!

Let Me Google That