Second day for Orlando’s FEMA vaccine site sees higher turnout

ORLANDO, Fla. – The second day of Orlando’s FEMA mass vaccination site began with a higher turnout after the site failed to reach its 2,000-dose capacity on Wednesday.

Hundreds lined up early on Thursday at Valencia College’s West Campus.

“We have a significant increase from yesterday,” Lt Col Troy Fisher said during a newsletter Thursday afternoon. “We are now working exactly as we had hoped all along.”

Fisher said the site averaged about 250 shots per hour.

FEMA officials said more than 2,000 doses were administered on Thursday.

The site used leftover doses from Wednesday and also used vaccines from Tuesday’s test run.

The site reached nearly 90% capacity on day one, officials said, with the lower-than-expected turnout being to blame for the wet weather on Wednesday morning and the fact that it was the first day.

Officials said they were making adjustments on Thursday to improve the experience of those who have to wait on the site for a while to get vaccinated.

“Tents are being set up, we are shifting the line to ensure that there are no people in traffic or that the traffic can still flow. That’s why we’re making improvements to this site every day to make sure we can take care of the people in Orlando, ”said Fisher.

The site is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is expected to remain open for at least eight weeks, according to the Orlando Police Department.

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To encourage higher attendance, organizers said they are working to spread the word that no appointments are needed at the venue.

Those eligible for the vaccine can pre-register by clicking or tapping here, but walk-ups are also accepted.

As of Thursday, an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis states that people who qualify for the vaccine include those aged 65 and over, law enforcement officers aged 50 and over, firefighters aged 50 and over, K-12 school personnel aged 50, and parent, health professionals and people who are extremely vulnerable with a signed form from a doctor.

However, the federally operated site expanded its eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine Thursday to include K-12 teachers, daycare workers, and other school workers following a call from President Joe Biden to have those workers vaccinated by the end of the month. Publix, CVS and Walmart have also expanded their admission requirements to offer photos to those employees.

[READ: Here’s where Florida teachers, school staff and child care workers can get the COVID-19 vaccine]

Yukeeba Mays, a 49-year-old teacher at West Orange High School, was able to get an injection Thursday after the site began offering shots to those who met the comprehensive criteria, just a day after she was initially sent off on the same site for failure to meet the state age requirement.

She said she was emotional when she heard the news that she was now eligible and rushed to get her vaccine as soon as possible.

“I was ecstatic because we should have been prioritized (on) Day 1. I mean I hear other states are opening up schools, but we’ve been open since August and been teaching face-to-face since August. I go to class every day, I pray I’m safe, ”said Mays.

Katherine Hammond is a 37-year-old teacher who recently extended her maternity leave because she was afraid of going back to school and possibly bringing the virus home. She said that now that teachers of all ages can get the vaccine, she will feel safer returning to work.

“I miss my children infinitely, I miss the people I work with and that makes me feel much better when I go back and finish the year strong,” she said.

Shelia Jones is a K-12 school district employee over 50 who was also waiting to be shot at the FEMA location on Thursday. She said she was ecstatic that the vaccine is now available to educators.

‘I think it is important. (Teachers) are around children. They need to be vaccinated because they are at risk, ”said Jones.

She said the lines were quite long on Thursday, but everything went pretty smoothly.

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