Seminole County

Nursing shortage limiting the number of COVID-19 vaccines the county can administer

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County plans to have another vaccine clinic this weekend, but appointments are already booked up.

County Emergency Manager Alan Harris said they would like to open up capacity, but one thing is standing in their way: not enough nurses.

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Harris said ideally they would like to give out 1,000 shots this weekend at Seminole State College, but because they can’t find enough nurses to administer the vaccine they are only able to do half of that.

Harrisa said the county currently has six nurses to give out shots this weekend, but need at least 12.

READ: More than 11,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Florida

“That’s an issue across the board, hospitals are experiencing that. and we’re experiencing that,” he said.

Harris said when the hospitals are short staffed, there is a trickle down effect to things like the vaccination events.

READ: Coronavirus: Has omicron run out of people to infect?

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Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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