SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – More vaccines, larger clinics, and most importantly, more hope on the Suncoast. Saturday, the county health department operated a second-dose vaccine clinic at the Sarasota Square Mall.
It’s not just a needle … to many, it’s a vaccine of hope.
“I feel relieved, very happy, Victor Kaufman said. “I can’t wait to go see my grandchildren.”
“It feels great getting a second shot, knowing in about 3 weeks, we’re going to be a whole lot safer than we were a month ago,” Manny Lopez said.
The vaccine is giving people something to look forward to.
“Now, we can do some traveling and see the grandchildren and the great children, and just have a peace of mind of knowing that we’re not going to get sick,” Ellen Wilson said.
More vaccine doses are flowing into Sarasota County
“Last week we received 13,000 first dose vaccines and another 3,900 second-dose,” Sarasota County Florida Department of Health, Steve Huard said.
Sarasota County health department says about 2,000 people are getting vaccinated at Saturday’s clinic. As more doses roll out at different locations throughout the county, Spokesperson, Steve Huard says to be careful.
“If you receive an alert notification to receive a vaccine, please make sure you’re going to the right location,” Huard said.
When you receive that notification, he says it’s important to confirm, so as to not delay getting your vaccine.
“If you don’t respond, you’ll just go back into the pool, you’ll receive a notification the following week,” Huard said. “So you’re not off the list, you’re not at the bottom of the list, but you accept that notice, you’ll get your shot maybe a week earlier.”
The mall had about 50 volunteers, vaccinating people at the same time, creating a smooth process.
SOT: Victor Kaufman and Ann Rainey – Sarasota County
“So quick today,” Victor Kaufman said. “It was boom, boom and we were in and out. 15 minutes we had to wait.” His wife, Ann Rainey added, “But they were very organized.”
If you haven’t gotten vaccinated, some who were vaccinated today have a message:
“Come get it. It’s easy, it’s quick, it’s painless,” Ellen Wilson said.
“Do it as soon as you can,” Manny Lopez said. “The more people that do it, the better we are protected as a country.”
“Definitely we need herd immunity, so we need to get everybody there as much as we can,” Ann Rainey said.
And 5,000 appointments were sent for Sunday’s state pop-up drive-thru first dose clinic at the Venice Municipal Airport Festival Fairgrounds.
