VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Access to a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is in high demand in Volusia County.
The state-run venue at Daytona Stadium was scheduled to open its gates at 7 am Monday morning, on a first-come, first-served basis, but due to high demand – and a long line of traffic – the gates opened earlier.
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Daytona Beach police tweeted that capacity was reached at 6:15 am
“We reached the capacity to distribute the vaccine # COVID19 today @DaytonaStadium. If you are not in line and inside the stadium property, try again tomorrow, ”said the tweet.
Daytona Beach city officials said that as people started camping for the vaccine event on Tuesday, to ensure their safety, teams will allow 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 temperature is expected to reach 40 on Monday night in Daytona Beach.
CAPACITY ACHIEVED: Police are refusing drivers in Daytona Beach after saying that at least 1,000 elderly people have already lined up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination starts at 9 am, with another 1,000 doses reserved for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/S9LSpqFnPg
– Mark Lehman (@ MarkLehman6) January 4, 2021
The drive-through vaccine distribution event is offering Modern COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to people aged 65 and over.
The vaccine distribution plan has the senior community close and very eager to be first in line.
“We are elderly, all we want is the vaccine,” said Fayna Lodz, 67. “Please give us the vaccine.”
Ludz added that he wants to see his daughter, travel and live.
Lowell Croll, of New Smyrna Beach, said he had not been on a trip to visit his children in Massachusetts in two years. He said he hopes to receive the life-saving serum.
“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. “
The Florida Department of Health is taking the lead on the vaccine website, where they plan to administer 1,000 doses on Monday and another 1,000 on Tuesday.
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.
“We are full. This clinic is crowded right now for anyone who is thinking, ‘Shall I leave tomorrow?’ I would say that not because we saw what happened today, it was the people who have been here since Sunday, ”said Boswell.
The state website has invited seniors and will provide a comprehensive traffic plan developed by the Daytona Beach Police Department.
“We are having a lot of fun and we want to keep doing that,” said Joe Leatherbury, 75. “We have children, grandchildren.”
Leatherbury said he already came prepared.
“A friend of mine was on Facebook and sent me a message saying that they are already going there, you better go down,” he said. “So I said take the banana pudding and let’s go.”
For some, it was worth the effort to get the photo taken.
“We are talking about a shot that saves lives. I can wait a few hours to save my life, without problems, ”said James Daniel, 71, after being vaccinated.
Kathy Faddis was also among those shot. 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.”
In Brevard County, a different vaccine plan is taking shape. Officials said 3,500 appointments are fully scheduled by February. Don Walker, the communications director for Brevard County, said the appointments will resume when the next shipment of vaccines arrives.
“We are going to reopen the nomination process and people can start signing up again to get an appointment to receive the first round of vaccines,” said Walker.
In Lake County, many elderly people were eager to roll up their sleeves, but those who attended without an appointment were refused.
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