On Friday he queued at the drive-thru Sierra Pacific clinic northeast of Fresno to protect himself from the coronavirus.
There were no secondary thoughts for Madrid, just one idea in mind: to survive this pandemic, as polio did all those years ago.
“You know people are a little wary about taking it, about being sick afterwards, not me,” he said. “I feel good”.
His daughter Gloria Mendoza accompanied him throughout the process.
She takes care of him daily and has taken all necessary precautions to protect his father.
“He made the shot like a pro,” he said. “He was there and I was very, very proud of him. Very proud of him. When it’s my time I’ll take it later.”
Health officials in Fresno County say this week their goal was to vaccinate 3,000 people, but among all the places they have exceeded that number.
They are now preparing to administer even more doses next week as they welcome a new level of people eligible for the shot.
Earlier this week, Fresno County moved to the next phase of distribution, allowing residents 75 and older to get the vaccine.
This has translated into long waiting times and even longer lines.
But Mendoza said they were coming in and out in less than an hour.
“They were beautiful, really organized,” he said. “I think maybe it was a 30-40 minute wait.”
But some who go out for the vaccine have no one to help them with the process.
That’s why health officials partner with community organizations for extra help.
“We’re really trying to develop a 1-800 number where people can call for help registering online,” said Joe Prado, manager of the Fresno County Health Division.
Fresno County intends to vaccinate half of its population by the end of July.
“It’s about building a distribution system, not just over the next thirty days, but throughout that period until July 31,” Prado says.
Fresno County Health Division Manager Joe Prado says so far the county has received 47,000 doses of the vaccine.
And there’s already talk of all the doses left in the county’s ultra-cold freezer.
“This is heading to our clinic at the Fresno Fair and will support some other clinics as well as providers,” says Prado.
Health officials are currently working to make the vaccination process smoother.
To clear up the confusion, Prado says they will further define the groups and categories that will be eligible for vaccination.
For example, law enforcement will be able to receive the vaccine next month in the emergency services category, but this is not explicitly defined in the vaccination timeline.
“What we need to do and what we’re going to do is add a definition to some of these categories of who belongs to those categories so that people have more details about where they are,” Prado says.
Health officials say there is a reason they chose this method, which could change in the future.
“If someone has an adverse reaction to the car and is on the other side of the parking lot, will you really be able to see and control them?” says Vohra
There are also some backups on the way.
Prado estimates that more than 100 health care providers have applied to distribute the vaccine.
Prado says next week there will be many more doses in Fresno County.
Madrid is now waiting for its second dose.
And until then he urges everyone to do their part to protect our elders.
“I encourage people to be more careful with each other,” he said.
The Sierra Vista Clinic in Fresno County will begin vaccinating residents age 65 and older starting Monday. To get vaccinated in this and other places in the county, you must first register for an online appointment. People can sign up here.
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