Seniors will sleep in their cars awaiting the COVID-19 vaccination event in Volusia County

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Seniors in Volusia County began lining up more than 19 hours before the doors scheduled to open on Tuesday for the second day of a COVID-19 vaccination event, first come, first served.

Cars were lined up outside Daytona Stadium by 2 p.m. Monday, well ahead of the state-hosted event on Tuesday.

City of Daytona Beach officials said that since people had already started camping for Tuesday’s immunization event, to keep them safe, crews allowed the first 1,000 people to enter Daytona Beach Stadium at 7 p.m. Monday night hours.

City officials hope the change will move people away from the roadway and contribute to early traffic congestion on LPGA Boulevard and surrounding roads.

Toilets will be available inside the stadium.

The weather is expected to fall into the 40’s Monday night in the Daytona Beach area.

At 11 p.m. on Monday, 700 people entered Daytona Stadium.

“I’m here with books, food and a chair and I’m just going to hang out,” said James Engelbrecht, 67.

Engelbrecht said he was tired of being isolated.

“I just want the vaccine to somehow free my life,” he says.

Judy Marquette, 74, said she would go camping until we got the vaccine.

“We are so afraid of getting sick because at our age we may not be cured,” she said.

Department of Health spokeswoman Patricia Boswell said Volusia County was trying to put in place an infrastructure that would support a dating system.

“We’ll wait until we get our allocation for this week before committing to our next site,” Boswell said.

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On Monday, authorities were forced to open doors early and refuse others due to demand for the coronavirus vaccine.

The Florida Department of Health offers Moderna COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to people 65 years of age and older.

Patricia Boswell, of the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, has asked residents to be patient as leaders work through the process.

“This is our first event. The demand is extremely high, the supply is extremely low, ”she said.

The vaccine distribution plan has the senior community eager to be the first in line.

“We are seniors, all we want is the vaccine,” said Fayna Ludz, 67. “Please give us the vaccine.”

Lowell Croll, of New Smyrna Beach, said he had not taken a trip to visit his children in Massachusetts for two years.

“I’m 84 and I have heart problems,” he says. “I’m fine, but I don’t want to have (COVID-19). I don’t want to take any chances. We are ready to do whatever we need to do. “

Kathy Faddis was among those who were vaccinated on Monday. She said she hoped things would work more efficiently in the future.

“As it progresses and they know how to do it, it will go even easier,” she said. “For their first time, I think they did a good job.”