POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) is experiencing vaccine shipment delays due to storms in the North. The storms are causing delays state-wide.
DOH-Polk anticipates receiving 7,000 first-dose vaccines and 5,500 second-dose vaccines in the upcoming shipment.
Individuals who are registered through Polk County’s vaccine portal and scheduled for their first or second dose vaccine this week should monitor their phones or email in the event their vaccine must be rescheduled.
Those with appointments affected by the delay will be contacted by DOH-Polk or its vaccination partners including Lakeland Regional Health, Baycare Winter Haven Hospital, Watson Clinic or Bond Clinic. If an individual does not receive a call or email to reschedule their vaccine, they should expect to arrive at their appointment as planned.
“These delays are unfortunate but unavoidable,” says Dr. Joy Jackson, director of the Florida Department of Health in Polk County. “We ask for patience from those who are currently scheduled and those waiting to be scheduled as we work expeditiously to reschedule and rearrange appointments.”
DOH-Polk continues to work with its community partners assisting in local vaccination efforts. The delay in supplies may cause a delay in vaccinations given by local vaccination partners.
Polk County Board of County Commissioner staff continue to assist DOH-Polk with the scheduling of vaccine appointments and will be assisting with the rescheduling of appointments impacted by the shipment delay.
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County is committed to dispersing the COVID-19 vaccine to residents as quickly and efficiently as possible. As of February 15th, more than 53,500 individuals in Polk have received the COVID-19 vaccine.