Vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus were developed in record time, and millions of Americans have now been vaccinated against COVID-19. But not everyone is currently eligible to get the vaccine.
In Florida, those 65 and older are currently being prioritized for vaccination, along with health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and individuals with underlying conditions. So in order to skip the line and get the vaccine before others, two young Florida women reportedly disguised themselves as "grannies."
A Florida health official, Dr. Raul Pino, described the incident on Wednesday where the two young women, who the doctor estimated to be in their twenties, showed up for vaccinations donning bonnets, gloves and glasses in an attempt to appear much older than they really were.
"We haven't had any lack of willing arms to get vaccinated," said Dr. Pino.
The health official said the two young women had arrived to receive their second doses of the vaccine, meaning their disguises had likely worked for the two women in the past.
"So yesterday, we realized a couple of young ladies came dressed up as grannies to get vaccinated for the second time," Pino recalled.
"I don't know how they escaped the first time," said Pino.
It's not clear whether or not the two women received the second dose of the vaccine.
Florida health officials said two women “dressed up as grannies” to try and receive their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. “I don’t know how they escaped the first time,” said Dr. Raul Pino. https://t.co/yqukHV5zP1 pic.twitter.com/McIeRvHkFE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 19, 2021
According to the Florida Department of Health’s daily vaccine report, as of Friday, nearly 1.3 million Floridians have received both doses of the vaccine.