Here's Another Chance For A Vaccine Appointment In Pasco County

D'Ann Lawrence White
·5 min read

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Thousands of Pasco County residents age 65 and over might as well forget about watching the Buccaneers take on the Green Bay Packers Sunday in the playoff game to decide who plays at Super Bowl LV.

Kickoff is at 3:05 p.m. but, instead of being glued to the television watching the pre-game shows, Pasco residents will be glued to their computers trying to register for a coronavirus vaccination.

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County will open registrations for coronavirus vaccinations starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 for three vaccination clinics taking place next week at Saint Leo University.

Registrations won't be available beforehand, so have your fingers fastened to your keyboard or your phone set up to automatically dial at exactly 2 p.m. or you'll miss your chance for an appointment.

There's no waiting list so, if you don't get an appointment this Sunday, you'll have to call back the next time registration opens.

The county has received a limited supply of vaccinations from the state and many have been reserved for residents who need their second dose so there are only 2,100 vaccines available for first doses.

If this week's sign-up is anything like last Sunday, all appointments will be snapped up in an hour. At least you'll be able to watch the Bucs and Packers kick off.

Appointments are necessary to receive a vaccine. Anyone resident 65 and older who needs the vaccination must go online to the CDR Maguire: Health & Medical or call 1-844-770-8548 (and be prepared to wait for someone to answer the busy phone lines).

Before registrations open Sunday, make sure you create an account with CDR Maguire: Health & Medical, which is managing all vaccination sign-ups for Pasco and surrounding counties. If you don't have an account, you can't register for an appointment because it requires your account log-in information.

Everyone in your family who is eligible for the vaccine must have a separate account.

Those who have already created an account with CDR Maguire should receive an alert that appointments are open, and you need to log into the patient portal to register for an appointment.

There will be 700 appointments available each day on Monday, Jan 25, Wednesday, Jan. 27 and Friday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in Saint Leo.

Appointments to receive the first dose of the vaccination will not be held at the former Sears at Gulfview Square Mall the week of Jan. 25. Only second-dose appointments will be at the mall on Tuesday and Thursday.

Those who need a second dose of the vaccine should receive an email from: "CDRM Health No-Reply: no-reply@cdrmhealth.com," not from the Pasco County Health Department.

If you don't receive an email, be sure to check your spam folder.

When checking in for vaccination appointments, residents are required to have a photo ID.

If the online patient portal was used to register for an appointment (instead of calling by phone), those residents should bring a printed or digital copy of the confirmation email they received containing a QR code. Verify you have a vaccine appointment. The appointment confirmation will have a QR code (like on the left), not a barcode (like on the right). If you don't have this, check your spam folder.

Vaccinations are no longer available to anyone 65 or older. You must be a full- or part-time resident of Florida. If you're a snowbird, you may be asked to show proof (a deed, rental agreement, utilities bill).

If you are able to get one of the coveted appointments, don't be late. Don't show up early either. Staff might ask you to leave and come back at your appointment time.

Vaccinations are no longer available to anyone 65 or older. You must be a full- or part-time resident of Florida. If you're a snowbird, you may be asked to show proof.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued a public health advisory Thursday after residents complained that residents were coming from other states and Canada specifically for vaccinations.

A seasonal resident means any person who temporarily lives in Florida for at least 31 consecutive days each year, maintains a temporary residence in this state, returns to the state at least one time during each calendar year and is registered to vote or pays income tax in another state or jurisdiction.

To prove residency, you must provide a copy of a valid Florida driver's license or a copy of a valid Florida identification card.

Seasonal residents may provide a copy of two of the following to show proof of residency:residential address:

  • A deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental or lease agreement.

  • One proof of residential address from the seasonal resident's parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom the seasonal resident resides, and a statement from the person with whom the seasonal resident resides stating that the seasonal resident confirming the person is living with them.

  • A utility hookup or work order dated within 60 days before registration.

  • A utility bill, not more than two months old.

  • Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings or investment account statements, not more than two months old.

  • Mail from a federal, state, county or municipal government agency, not more than two months old.

For more information, click here.

This article originally appeared on the New Port Richey Patch