Seniors to sleep in their cars to wait for the COVID-19 vaccine event in Volusia County

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida. – Seniors in Volusia County started lining up more than 19 hours before the gates were scheduled to open on Tuesday for the second day of a first-come, first-served COVID-19 vaccination event.

The cars were lined up outside Daytona Stadium before 2pm on Monday, well before Tuesday’s state event.

Daytona Beach city officials said that as people started camping for the vaccine event on Tuesday, to ensure their safety, the teams allowed the first 1,000 people to enter Daytona Beach Stadium at 7pm Monday- market.

City officials hope the move will remove people from the highway and help with traffic congestion on LPGA Boulevard and neighboring roads.

There will be restrooms available inside the stadium.

The average time is expected to drop to 40 on Monday night in the Daytona Beach area.

As of 11 pm on Monday, 700 people entered Daytona Stadium.

“I’m here with books, food and a chair and I’m just going to have fun,” said James Engelbrecht, 67.

Engelbrecht said he is tired of being isolated.

“I just want the vaccine to kind of free my life,” he said.

Judy Marquette, 74, said she will camp until we get the vaccine.

“We are so afraid of getting sick because, at our age, we may not recover,” she said.

Department of Health spokeswoman Patricia Boswell said Volusia County is trying to implement an infrastructure that would support an appointment system.

“We will wait to receive our allocation for this week before committing to our next website,” said Boswell.

[TRENDING: How to get vaccine in Florida | New attractions coming to Central Florida theme parks | FDA to consider cutting vaccine doses in half]

Authorities on Monday were forced to open the gates earlier and refuse others due to demand for the coronavirus vaccine.

The Florida Department of Health is offering Modern COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to people 65 and older.

Patricia Boswell, of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, urged residents to be patient while leaders work through the process.

“This is our first event. Demand is too high, supply is too low, ”she said.

The vaccine distribution plan has the senior community eager to be first in line.

“We are elderly, all we want is the vaccine,” said Fayna Ludz, 67. “Please give us the vaccine.”

Lowell Croll, of New Smyrna Beach, said he had not been on a trip to visit his children in Massachusetts in two years.

“I am 84 years old and have some heart problems,” he said. “I’m fine, but I don’t want to (COVID-19). I don’t want to take any chances. We are willing to do whatever is necessary. “

Kathy Faddis was among those shot on Monday. She said she expects things to work more efficiently in the future.

“As this progresses and they learn how to do it, everything will move even more smoothly,” she said. “For the first time, I think they did really well.”