SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County held a free vaccination event on Saturday following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement that booster shots are now permitted for kids age 12 and older.
Appointments for 500 people filled up quickly after the clinic was announced.
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While the county wanted to offer double that amount, it just wasn’t possible because they didn’t have enough nurses to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Unfortunately, we did have a few of the nurses who were planning to come in got sick. Just like anywhere else. Any kind of workforce, people are experiencing sickness,” said Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris.
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On Saturday, thanks to some last-minute volunteers, the county was able to get about 100 more people vaccinated than originally anticipated.
“We ended up having about fifteen nurses. We need some to draw the vaccine of course and mix the vaccines, and it takes some special care with some of the young ones,” Harris said.
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Sabrina Ramos-Cotto said she finds today’s turnout encouraging in the fight against the pandemic and hopes with more variants popping up, the momentum continues. “We got the flu shot every year before all of this blew up, and so obviously as it continues to generate and mutate, I anticipate more because that’s what the flu shot does,” Ramos-Cotto said.
Due to high demand and interest, Seminole County is planning to have another pop-up vaccine clinic in the next week or two. Right now, the county is still looking for a location.
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