Woman waits 19 hours at Daytona Stadium to get vaccine on birthday of brother who died from COVID-19

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Shirley Green only packed the essentials for her trip to Daytona Stadium: Some snacks and toiletries.

The 69-year-old arrived outside the stadium at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, then spent the night in her car, like many other senior citizens. She was hoping to be among those vaccinated for the first dose of COVID-19 that was being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The temperatures that night dropped into the 40s. Thankfully, she also brought a blanket.

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“Because of my financial situation, I didn’t want to go through too much gas. So I got very cold sometimes,” Green said.

She also fought for a comfortable spot with her pillow.

“I would try it behind my head. I tried it this way. I tried to fold it,” she said with a laugh.

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She didn’t get much sleep, but 19 hours, later, getting the shot made it all worth it.

Green said she was determined to get her shot on Jan. 4, a day of importance to her.

“(It) would have been my brother’s birthday. And he died of COVID in October,” she said. “And to me, it was my -- I don’t know tribute is the right word, or honor to him, (to) try and keep myself safe from all of this ugliness that’s going on.”

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His name was Ken, and Green said he was hospitalized on Oct. 3, then died 10 days later.

When she heard the site was opening on what would have been his 73rd birthday, she said “My heart skipped a beat.”

“I said, ‘You bet that is my date, and I’m going to do it.’”

Cox Media Group