Manatee County begins new way to pre-register for future COVID-19 vaccine appointments

Manatee County begins new way to pre-register for future COVID-19 vaccine appointments
Posted on 01/06/2021

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Jan. 6, 2021) – Manatee County Commissioners today signed off on a new COVID-19 vaccine standby pool process that will allow seniors ages 65 and older to avoid waiting lines by pre-registering by phone or online with the County if they're interested in receiving vaccines beginning to arrive locally.

"We're pleased to announce a new open-ended registration process that will help avoid some of the online registration challenges we encountered before," said Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea as she explained the new system to County Commissioners today. "If for some reason you're not able to register at one time, you should have no problems registering another time. It won't impact your chances of getting a vaccination appointment."

Seniors ages 65 and older can join the standby pool one of two ways:

  • Online: On Thursday, Jan. 7 anytime after 10 p.m., up to two people at a time can join the standby pool by filling out an online form which the County will provide tomorrow via press release, on social media and on www.mymanatee.org/vaccine tomorrow by 2 p.m.
  • By phone: On Friday, Jan. 8 anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. seniors ages 65 and older can dial the County's 311 Call Center to ask for help joining the vaccine standby pool. 311 Call Center operators can assist from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday. NOTE: Manatee County will not be collecting financial information, social security numbers or other sensitive personal information. The vaccines being administered by the Department of Health are free to the public.

Over time the list of names in the standby pool will grow. Whenever a new shipment of vaccines arrives, the same number of names will be pulled through randomized selection. 311 reps will use those names to call pre-registered seniors and help them book an appointment.

"If you’re over 65 and you'd like to be vaccinated, you need to get onto that waiting pool list," said Public Safety Director Jacob Saur. "As soon as the Department of Health get doses in, we get them right back out. That is the number one priority."

On the day of the appointment, seniors will take to their appointment the following:

  • An email receipt or unique number they receive from the 311 Call Center
  • A Department of Health consent form available at www.mymanatee.org/vaccine (311 callers can assist with the form for those without internet access)
  • A valid ID showing age 65 or older

Coryea said the updated process offers several advantages. Seniors without internet access will now have the same ability to receive an appointment. Those with internet access can register anytime on any day. Also, there will no longer be a race to book appointments online. The new registration pool is open ended, and anyone who wants to enroll can do so online or by calling 311.