INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Appointments quickly filled up on Monday for a pair of mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Indian River County, officials said.
The Florida Department of Health in Indian River County is hosting clinics for people 65 and older on Wednesday and Thursday at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.
Registration for appointments opened at 9:30 a.m. Monday, and by 11:30 a.m., they were all booked up.
The health department said additional appointments will become available when Indian River County receives more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"We have three phones going calling, trying to get through trying to make an appointment," said resident Joe Budz.
Joe and Jan Budz finally got a vaccine date this week in Indian River County, for one of them.
Joe has to keep trying, and it's that uncertainty that frustrates many.
"They just want to know they’re on a list somewhere," said Commissioner Peter O’Bryan.
At a special meeting of county commissioners on Monday, the decision was made to establish an online COVID-19 vaccination waitlist system separate from one the state is developing.
"That people will be able to call in, get in the queue, and they will be able to move forward with their lives as they wait for the shot," said Commission Chairman Joe Flescher.
There are 53,000 residents 65 and older in Indian River County. So far, just over 10,000 have received their first shots.
"Even though we don’t have all the vaccine we could want, we have an effective delivery system," said Miranda Hawker with the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County.
The county will spend $175,000 to use this new registration system established by Luminare.
The new waitlist should be up and running in three to seven days.
You can learn about future vaccination clinics in Indian River County by clicking here.
.@IRCGOV votes to establish its own online COVID-19 vaccination waitlist system rather than wait for state. pic.twitter.com/hN6UrJ8dsP
— Jon Shainman (@JonShainman) January 25, 2021
