Snowbirds
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MIAMI—Visitors from Toronto to New York to Buenos Aires have long flocked to Florida for sun, surf and shopping. Now they are coming for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Some of the arrivals are Americans or foreigners who own second homes in the state and reside here part-time. Others are making short-term visits, seizing the opportunity provided by Florida’s decision to make the vaccine available to people age 65 and older, including nonresidents. The practice, which some are calling vaccine tourism, has drawn fire from some officials and residents.
Interest is up sharply from Canadians who are looking to travel to the U.S. for vaccinations, according to Momentum Jets, a private jet service provider in Toronto.
“We’re getting requests now from clients that are willing to fly into Florida, if they have an appointment, and then fly home again on the same day,” said Janelle Brind, a company vice president. Costs for a charter flight range from $25,000 to $80,000 for a same-day round trip, she said.
Martin Firestone, an insurance broker and president of Travel Secure Inc. in Toronto, said about 30% of his clientele of so-called snowbirds decided to travel to the southern U.S. in November despite the pandemic.
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MIAMI—Visitors from Toronto to New York to Buenos Aires have long flocked to Florida for sun, surf and shopping. Now they are coming for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Some of the arrivals are Americans or foreigners who own second homes in the state and reside here part-time. Others are making short-term visits, seizing the opportunity provided by Florida’s decision to make the vaccine available to people age 65 and older, including nonresidents. The practice, which some are calling vaccine tourism, has drawn fire from some officials and residents.
Interest is up sharply from Canadians who are looking to travel to the U.S. for vaccinations, according to Momentum Jets, a private jet service provider in Toronto.
“We’re getting requests now from clients that are willing to fly into Florida, if they have an appointment, and then fly home again on the same day,” said Janelle Brind, a company vice president. Costs for a charter flight range from $25,000 to $80,000 for a same-day round trip, she said.
Martin Firestone, an insurance broker and president of Travel Secure Inc. in Toronto, said about 30% of his clientele of so-called snowbirds decided to travel to the southern U.S. in November despite the pandemic.
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Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
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Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
@taiwan_girl said in Snowbirds:
Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
These are mostly people from out of the country that might (or might not) have a residence there.
Or it could be because Florida is (correctly) prioritizing the aged whereas if your state followed the Trump administration's advice the aged have had to wait for tens of millions of "essential workers" to get vaccinated first.
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Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
@taiwan_girl said in Snowbirds:
Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
Maybe Florida is more efficient in vaccine delivery to seniors. Cuomo has screwed it up in New York.
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@taiwan_girl said in Snowbirds:
Does Florida have so many more vaccines than other states?
Otherwise, why go there instead of staying in your home state?
Maybe Florida is more efficient in vaccine delivery to seniors. Cuomo has screwed it up in New York.
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I just signed up in Orange County (I like Disney).
After filling out several pages of medical information and registering at the web site they told me all the available vaccine is taken. But they will get back to me when more is available.
I tried scheduling in Jacksonville, (each County has it's own system) but all the reservations are taken.
Neither place had a problem with my Virginia address.
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@jolly Because he followed the administration's recommendation.
FL, TX, OH and other have not.
