Benson, NC – Hundreds of elderly people waited in the dark on Tuesday morning for a drive-thru coronavirus vaccine clinic in Johnston County. Some were in line at midnight, 10 hours before the event started.
Thirty minutes before the clinic opened at West Johnston High School in Benson, some elderly people were turned down when capacity was reached for the 500 available doses.
The clinic was operated on a first-come, first-served basis for people aged 75 and over. While supplies were expected to run out quickly, the drive-thru style kept the elderly in their cars and out of the rain during the long wait.
Louise Davis was one of the elderly women in line before 5 am
“I thought about it on the way here. I am very grateful that we have this. I am happy that we can get here in time to get it today, but it is almost surreal,” said Davis.
Faye Johnson said it seems “crazy” to be in line for the vaccine, “but I have a large family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I want to be around as long as I can to be with my family.”
A third person waiting, Shelton Davis, said, “I’m trying to take care of myself. It seems like a good way to do this. “
The Johnston County Department of Health said other drive-thru clinics, as well as appointment vaccines, will be offered as the vaccine becomes more available.
Find information about vaccines in your municipality.
Any remaining individuals who qualified for the Phase 1A vaccine – healthcare professionals dealing with COVID-19 patients and long-term care facility staff – were also eligible for vaccinations during the drive-thru clinic.
Johnston County residents can register to receive alerts and updates about vaccination clinics and tests on their phones by texting COVIDJOCO to 888777.
Other counties are also vaccinating health care workers and seniors aged 75 and over on Tuesday.
In Granville County, an appointment-only vaccine clinic started at 10 am at Granville Primary Care & OB / GYN in Oxford. Authorities said the 80 available appointments were booked quickly.
