SARASOTA (WSNN) – The Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, normally a destination for song, drama, and dance, was transformed, Saturday, into a place filled with hope, one COVID shot at a time.
Thousands of wheels crunch gravel as people line up to get vaccinated.
“I mean you have to live under a rock to not know it’s available,” Loraine Davis said. “Everybody should get the vaccine, I am thrilled to finally be here.”
The city of Sarasota is administering 4000 doses of the Moderna vaccines this weekend. Mayor Hagen Brody spearheaded the drive-thru clinic at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
“We really wanted to send the message to the governor that we can handle the doses that you send to the community, and he’s responded to that in the past,” Mayor Brody said. “And the doses he sends to the community, we are getting out. So, send more.”
All made possible through multiple partnerships between the department of health, the county, medical professionals, and Suncoast volunteers.
“We got the call from the Mayor and we immediately signed up, Florida Medical Association President Michael Patete said. “Volunteers are essential here to make sure we get these injections and vaccinations done.”
More than a hundred volunteers came together to make this vision a reality.
“These are the medical professionals that have been on the front lines of the vaccines since the beginning,” Mayor Brody said. “And they know better than anybody the devastating effects it’s had on our community and how important it is to get people vaccinated so that we can save lives and get back to our way of life.”
The city made appointments through the county’s Everbridge system. People get an account number and are put on a waitlist. As of this report, the county has scheduled up to account number 50,520.
“It’s just a good thing to be able to take big chunks out of that list, get people the vaccines they need,” Mayor Brody said.
“We’re delivering this vaccine of hope to all our citizens that are eligible,” Epidemiologist, Dr. Manuel Gordillo said.
Dr. Gordillo says it’s important to receive your second dose in four weeks.
“We know by science that there’s a two-week grace period after that,” Dr. Gordillo said. “Because we know from clinical trials, from up to two weeks after that, they can still get a vaccine and get the full effect of the vaccine. We don’t know what happens after those two weeks.”
Everyone vaccinated at this site is going to receive a second-dose notification in about 3 weeks. So make sure you hold onto that vaccine appointment card.
The vaccine distribution is by appointment only. While there are several vaccination clinics happening in Sarasota County from Sarasota Square Mall to the Van Wezel, you cannot change your appointment location. The city says when you get your notification, you must confirm and go to a specific place.
