Selma, NC – Despite the short wait, extended hours, organizers are struggling to deplete the supply of COVID-19 vaccine at the drive-thru clinic in Johnston County
A clinic for the first doses of the Modern vaccine at North Johnston High School reported short waiting times and numerous vaccines against COVID-19 on Wednesday. Organizers wanted to use the 2,000 doses, but said it would be difficult for them to do so on Wednesday.
No prior appointment was required for the event at 5915 U.S. Highway 301 in Kenly, which was open to people over 65, health workers and staff and long-term care center residents. The clinic opened at 8:45 a.m. and extended the hours until 4 p.m. after the vaccine was not over, when it was initially supposed to end at 2 p.m.
“They’re basically not good once you puncture them. We don’t want to open a road if we don’t have enough people to get a vaccine from that road,” said Lu Hickey, a member of the Johnston County Department of Public Health. information officer.
Dianne Otey, 74, and her husband drove an hour from Fuquay-Varina to Selma to receive the vaccine.
“I’ve been trying online for a month, over the phone, and I haven’t been able to move forward. I’ve even tried the Walgreens app and this has crashed,” Otey explained.
Howard Rogers, who lives in Raleigh, also crossed county lines to receive the vaccine.
“We are in five different [wait] lists … when we get in touch with them, they say “we’re out,” Rogers explained. “You just have to keep trying [and] be as patient as possible. ”
Hickey said the county has maintained vaccination clinics in different locations.
“Usually [the vaccine clinics] they’re in high schools because they have a bigger footprint and they have more space where you can work to get more vehicles, “he added.” This area is the top of our county and what we have tried to do [is] to get all the sections of our county, and we come back here a second time trying to get as many people as we couldn’t get the first time. ”
Hickey said the goal is for residents not to have to drive from one end of the county to the other.
“It ‘s very exciting to see people come out [and] wanting this vaccine. We’re looking forward to being able to provide second doses for people to come out as well, ”he said.
State officials have said Johnston County is struggling to vaccinate communities of color, especially Hispanics.
“We’re still in the red zone, but our numbers are going down,” Hickey said.
Another self-taught clinic opened in Fayetteville at 9 a.m. the Crown Crown for people who need a first or second dose of the vaccine.
In Wilson, a second-dose vaccine clinic opened Wednesday at Fike High School at 500 Harrison Drive. The event is for people who have already received the first dose at this site.
Learn more about vaccination in your area.
