Seniors turned down COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 75 and over :: WRAL.com

By Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporter

Benson, North Carolina – Hundreds of seniors waited in the dark Tuesday morning for a drive-thru coronavirus vaccination clinic in Johnston County. Some lined up at midnight, 10 hours before the start of the event.

Thirty minutes before the clinic opened at West Johnston High School in Benson, some seniors were turned away when capacity was reached for the 500 available doses.

The clinic operated on a first come, first serve basis for people aged 75 or over. Although supplies were expected to run out quickly, the drive-thru style kept seniors inside their cars and out of the rain during the long wait.

Louise Davis was one of the seniors in line before 5 a.m.

“I thought about it on my way here. I’m very thankful that we have it. I’m glad we can get there in time to get it today, but it’s almost surreal,” said Davis.

Faye Johnson said it was “crazy” to be in line for the vaccine, “but I have a big family of kids and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I want to be there. as long as possible to be with my family. “

A third person waiting, Shelton Davis, said, “I try to take care of myself. Seems like a really good way to do it. “

The Johnston County Department of Health said additional drive-thru clinics, as well as appointment vaccinations, would be offered as the vaccine became more available.

Find information on vaccines in your county.

All those remaining eligible for the vaccine under Phase 1A – healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 and staff in long-term care facilities – were also eligible to be vaccinated during the clinic at flying.

Residents of Johnston County can sign up to receive alerts and updates on immunization clinics and testing on their phones by texting COVIDJOCO to 888777.

Other counties are also vaccinating healthcare workers and people aged 75 and over on Tuesday.

In Granville County, an appointment-only vaccination clinic started at 10 a.m. at Granville Primary Care & OB / GYN in Oxford. Officials said the 80 available appointments were all booked promptly.