Florida, one of our most inept states.

James Crews, a 65-year-old incarcerated at the Seminole County jail, was asked by corrections staff weeks ago about his interest in being vaccinated against COVID-19. He said he signed up, but has yet to hear back.

Crews said jail medical staff told him they were working to obtain the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but he has not received any update on that process. He said he doesn’t know anyone at the jail who’d been vaccinated, but he’s eager for the shot — especially in light of a recent outbreak.

“They first asked me about vaccination in February,” he wrote. “I have no idea when I may receive it. I am surely ready.”

As jails in Florida have repeatedly battled COVID-19 outbreaks over the past year — some as recently as this past week — there’s still no statewide plan to widely offer vaccines to people incarcerated at the high-risk facilities, even as eligibility is soon to include all adults throughout the state.

Some local jails have inoculated a handful of people who are incarcerated, including in Seminole County, but other major lockups — like those in Osceola, Polk, and Pinellas counties — have not offered any shots.

Officials confirm 2nd COVID-19 outbreak at Seminole County jail, at least 18 inmates vaccinated

Orange County Jail spokesperson Tracy Zampaglione confirmed this week that 24 people in the jail, all 65 and older, have received their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine — a little more than half of the people currently incarcerated who are qualified for the vaccine. The jail houses about 2,500 people. As of this week, all Floridians older than 40 are eligible for the shots.

Zampaglione said there’s no current plan to more-widely offer vaccines, though the jail “is committed to championing the cause, ... [a]s soon as the opportunity presents itself.”