Elderly people will sleep in their cars to wait for the COVID-19 vaccine in Volusia County

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County seniors began queuing for more than 19 hours before the gates were scheduled to open on Tuesday during the second day of vaccination against COVID-19.

The cars lined up outside Daytona Stadium before 2 p.m. Monday, well in advance of Tuesday’s state event.

City officials in Daytona Beach said that since people began camping at the vaccination event on Tuesday, to ensure their safety, crews allowed the first 1,000 people to enter the stadium. from Daytona Beach at 7pm Monday night.

City officials hope the change will remove people from the roadway and help with early traffic congestion on LPGA Boulevard and surrounding roads.

There will be bathrooms inside the stadium.

Times are forecast to drop in the 1940s Monday night in the Daytona Beach area.

At 11pm on Monday, 700 people entered Daytona Stadium.

James Engelbrecht, 67, said: “I’m here with books, food and a chair and I’ll just pass the time.”

Engelbrecht said he is tired of being isolated.

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

Judy Marquette, 74, said she will go camping until we get the vaccine.

“We’re so scared to get sick because at our ages we may not recover,” he said.

Department of Health spokeswoman Patricia Boswell said Volusia County is trying to put in place infrastructure to support an appointment system.

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

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Authorities on Monday were forced to open their doors early and move away from others due to demand for the coronavirus vaccine.

The Florida Department of Health offers free COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to people 65 and older.

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

“This is our first event. Demand is extremely high, supply is extremely low, ”he said.

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

“We’re older people, all we want to get is the vaccine,” said Fayna Ludz, 67. “Please give us the vaccine.”

Lowell Croll, of New Smyrna Beach, said he has not made a trip to visit his children in Massachusetts two years ago.

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

Kathy Faddis was one of the people who was shot on Monday. He said he hopes things will work out more efficiently in the future.

“As this progresses and you understand how to do it, it will move even more smoothly,” he said. “For the first time, I think they’ve done really well.”