OKEECHOBEE – Thursday’s COVID-19 vaccination pod in Okeechobee was a success, with 500 people vaccinated in less than four hours. The event was well organized with county and health department staff working together. But officials noted some problem areas they hope to learn from, and address for future vaccination events.

Proving Florida residency
One snag in the vaccination process had to do with the paperwork required to prove Florida residency. Gov. Ron DeSantis’s executive order limiting vaccinations to Florida residents allows season residents to qualify if they own or rent a home in Florida part of the year. Despite widespread publication of this information in the newspaper, online, on the radio and on television, some people arrived without the required paperwork on Thursday and had to be turned away. The easiest way to show Florida residency is a Florida driver’s license or Florida ID card issued by the driver’s license office.

If an individual does not have a valid Florida driver license or identification card, they may present a copy of two of the following items that show proof of residential address:
• A deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental or lease agreemen;
• A utility hookup or work order that is not more than 2 months old;

• A utility bill that is not more than 2 months old;
• Mail from a bank or other financial institution, including checking, savings, or investment account statements, that is not more than 2 months old. Mail must show street address. Post office boxes do not qualify.
• Mail from a government agency that is not more than 2 months old;
• Property tax bill (available online on the Property Appriaser’s website).
• One of the above items from the individual’s parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom the individual resides and a statement from the parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom the person resides stating that the person does resides with him or her.

Failing to complete consent forms
The required consent form for vaccination was available online. Paper copies were also available at the Okeechobee County Public Library. People who arrive without the forms, or who do not completely fill out and sign the forms contribute to delays.

People lining up too early
According to the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, cars started lining up at 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 outside the Agri-Civic Center for the Feb. 4 vaccination pod. Although the county website stated the gates to the Agri-Civic Center would not open until 6 a.m. and the vaccinations would start at 8:30 a.m., deputies opened the gates at 3 a.m. to keep cars from stacking up along State Road 710. The biggest concern was the safety of those driving on State Road 710, according to Michelle Bell of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.

Okeechobee County Commission Chair Terry Burroughs said he would have preferred the gates stayed shut until the posted time with those who came early directed to go home and come back at 6 a.m. He said many of those who arrived at the Agri-Civic Center at the posted time were too late to get a vaccination because there were already so many cars ahead of them.

Too many cars let in before gate was closed
Some who got into the Agri-Civic Center parking lot before the gate was closed waited for hours only to be told all the shots had been used.  Burroughs said they counted cars on the way in, but didn’t anticipate multiple people in many of the cars. While some vehicles only had one person seeking vaccination, others transported as many as five people. He suggested next time they should only let about 275 cars in to the parking lot so people don’t wait in line only to be disappointed.