On Friday, he waited in line at the Sierra Pacific drive-thru clinic in northeast Fresno to protect himself from the coronavirus.
There were no second thoughts for Madrid, just one idea in mind – survive this pandemic, as he did polio all those years ago.
“You know people are a little suspicious of taking it, of being sick afterwards, not me,” he said. “I feel fine.”
His daughter Gloria Mendoza accompanied him through the trial.
She takes care of him every day and has taken every precaution to protect her father.
“He took the picture like a pro,” she said. “He was there and I was very, very proud of him. Very proud of him. When it’s my time, next time I’ll do it.”
Fresno County health officials say their goal this week was to vaccinate 3,000 people, but among all sites they have surpassed that number.
They are now preparing to deliver even more doses next week as they welcome a new set of people who are eligible for the shot.
Earlier this week, Fresno County went to the next stage of distribution, allowing residents 75 and older to receive the vaccine.
This has resulted in long waiting times and even longer lines.
But Mendoza said they were in and out within an hour.
“They were beautiful, really organized,” she said. “I think it was maybe a 30 to 40 minute wait.”
But some who come for their vaccine have no one to help them with the process.
That’s why health officials are partnering with community organizations for additional help.
“We’re really trying to develop a 1-800 number that people can call to get help actually registering online,” said Joe Prado, manager of the Fresno County health department.
Fresno County is aiming to vaccinate half of the population by the end of July.
“This is about building a distribution system, not just for the next thirty days, but for the entire period up to July 31,” said Prado.
Joe Prado, manager of the Fresno County health department, says the county has received 47,000 doses of the vaccine to date.
And all the doses left in the province’s ultra-cold freezer have already been discussed.
“That goes to our clinic at the Fresno Fair and supports a few other clinics and health care providers,” says Prado.
Health officials are currently working to make the vaccination process smoother.
To clear up confusion, Prado says they will further define the groups and categories that qualify for immunization.
For example, law enforcement is eligible to get the vaccine under the emergency services category next month, but that’s not explicitly defined on the vaccination timeline.
“What we need to do and what we will do is add a definition to some of those categories of who falls under those categories so that people have a little more detail about what they fall under,” Prado says.
Health officials say there is a reason they chose this method, which could change in the future.
“If someone has a side effect in the car and they are facing you in the parking lot, can you really see and follow them?” Vohra says
Some backups are also on the way.
Prado estimates that more than 100 healthcare providers have applied to distribute the vaccine.
Prado says many more doses are coming to Fresno County next week.
Madrid is now waiting for its second dose.
Until then, he urges everyone to do their part to protect our elders.
“I encourage people to be more careful among themselves,” he said.
Clinica Sierra Vista in Fresno County will begin vaccinating residents 65 and older starting Monday. To be vaccinated at these and other locations in the province, you must first register online for an appointment. People can register here.
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