FORT PIERCE, Fla. – St. Lucie County hopes to step up its efforts to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents aged 65 and over.
Health department officials announced on Friday that they are conducting a drive-thru mass vaccination clinic on January 11, 12 and 13 at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierce, from 9 am to 3 pm every day.
People aged 65 and over and health professionals can receive the COVID-19 vaccine only by appointment. Schedule an appointment, Click here.
County health administrator Clint Sperber said he anticipates that St. Lucie County will vaccinate about 1,500 a day at the clinic.
“We know that current supplies are not enough, so be patient, as more vaccines arrive in the state and, eventually, in St. Lucie County,” said Sperber.
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According to the latest figures from the Florida Department of Health, there are 15,701 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 424 coronavirus-related deaths in St. Lucie County.
“We want to go back there, we want to see our friends and go back to our hobbies and live that life that has so much to offer,” said Taylor Mazza, a resident. The use of the mask seems to be loose in general, because for a long time we were told what to do, where to go and how to do it. “
County administrator Howard Tipton said that St. Lucie County is experiencing a “second and strongest wave” of the coronavirus, and the county has averaged 190 new cases per day in the past two weeks.
“The numbers show that we are helping to spread the virus. We need to do better,” said Tipton. “We are seeing by far the largest number of cases that we have seen since the beginning of this pandemic.”
Tipton said that despite the numbers, they do not intend to close facilities or modify county operations.