WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ann Ryan owns property in Palm Beach County. That's where she pays taxes and spends six months a year, but, technically, she's a resident of New York.
She said she keeps getting mixed messages about receiving the vaccine during her stay in Florida.
"Certain people say, 'Oh, absolutely. Snowbirds are going to be included, if you are the same age, just go,'" she said. "Then, I hear other people telling me, 'You got to bring your residency card with you,' which I don't have."
It's a concern shared by so many part-time residents starting the new year in Florida's sunshine.
"Am I able to stay here and somehow be included in the numbers?" she said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is discouraging people to travel to Florida solely for the vaccine, he explained Monday.
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"For seasonal residents who are going to be here, I think it's totally fine if they want to do it," he said.
Still, snowbirds looking to receive a shot need to meet the other criteria in place, like being 65 or older.
"That's much different than somebody just showing up and saying, 'Give me a shot,' and then they're just going to fly back somewhere," DeSantis said. "We obviously are not going to do that."
Ryan said she's excited because she'd like to see her significant other who has chosen to stay in New York.
"We're hoping to get back together if we can get vaccines, so I was excited about that," she said.
According to the new numbers from the state Tuesday, more than 12,000 people vaccinated in Florida are listed as "out of state." Overall, nearly 290,000 people have been vaccinated in Florida.
