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PSTA offers dozens of people rides to COVID-19 vaccine site

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Posted at 4:34 PM, Feb 23, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-23 17:24:49-05

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — PSTA hopes to be a beacon of hope for folks that want to get vaccinated.

“Maybe they don’t have a car, maybe they don’t have a motive transportation, but we do, we specialize in moving people but we’re just taking it up a notch,” said Stephanie Rank, a PSTA PR Spokeswoman.

On Tuesday, 50 people from a St. Petersburg apartment complex got on a bus and headed to Viridian, a senior housing community to get their COVID-19 shots.

“It’s a 55+ community so you don’t know their health background or that sort of thing,” said Rank. “Having bus transport, it’s great for them.”

PSTA says Emergency Management officials in Pinellas requested they shuttle them to the vaccine site and says they are open to helping even more people in the future.

“As of right now we are just doing it today and depending on how successful it is I’m sure Pinellas emergency management will ask us to do it again,” Rank said.

In Hillsborough County, HART says they’re open to doing the same thing but says that direction would come from the state or federal government. They say there will be a new vaccine site opening at the Tampa Greyhound track at the beginning of March.

Citrus Connection in Polk County has not been directed to shuttle people either but says they are open to it as well.

Pasco County Public Transportation provides rides for those who request it. Anyone with a vaccine appointment who would like a ride can call PCPT directly at 727-834-3322 to schedule a pick-up & drop-off.

The same thing in Manatee county, they provide rides to those who have a vaccine appointment scheduled and need a lift. Officials say if you are randomly selected from the Vaccine Standby Pool you will be called by an operator from the County’s 3-1-1 service to schedule the appointment.

At that time, you will need to let them know you are in need of transport.