/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VY2P2WOKLFA5PK43DWRWQA56ME.JPG "Jillian LoDico, the incoming director of nursing, receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Gulf Shore Care Center. \"Amazing,\" she said of being vaccinated. On Monday, local health departments began offering registration for coronavirus vaccines to people 65 and older.")
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County suspended registration for coronavirus vaccine appointments at the end of its first day, according to a tweet.
The health department said registration for appointments by phone and online were suspended as of 6:49 p.m. Monday and that more details would come soon.
Seniors across Tampa Bay scrambled Monday to get an appointment, and were instead faced with crashed websites and busy phone lines.
Pinellas health officials said “we understood that there would be an enthusiastic response, and we are working to promptly resolve the issues,” in a news release Monday afternoon.
The Hillsborough County health department expanded its hours for its call center. On Tuesday it will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and appointments are still available, according to a news release. Online registration has been temporarily suspended.
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