VIERA, Fla. – People over 65 and health care workers who do not belong to the health care system became the first of Brevard County’s general public to get the COVID-19 vaccine Monday.
Drive-through appointments at the health department in Viera are now available weekday mornings and afternoons.
Linda Brabo, 70, of Palm Bay, was at the front of line Monday.
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“I’m very excited to get this first line of protection here,” Brabo said. “I feel very blessed to be among the few people so far that have been able to get it.”
Linda Brabo, 70, of Palm Bay is one of the first of Brevard County‘s general public to get the #COVID19 vaccine. Full stories including when @BrevardCo_FL says more appointments for seniors might become available, today on @news6wkmg at 4:30 and 5:30. pic.twitter.com/bcdMefjHpv
— James Sparvero (@News6James) January 4, 2021
According to the county, 3,500 appointments are booked over the next several weeks.
Deborah Arluck, also from Palm Bay, was second Monday to get the vaccine.
She said while scheduling her appointment, she got through to the phone line after trying about ten times.
Last week, some people who did not get through told News 6 they called more than 100 times.
Arluck said the vaccine gives her peace of mind and she felt sorry for people who could not make appointments.
“Yes, I do but supply and demand,” she said.
And with the demand, the county continued to say it hopes to have more vaccines on the way, possibly before the end of the week.
“And once we start getting more doses in, then we’ll reopen that appointment process and people can start applying,” communications director Don Walker said.
When the county gets more vaccines, it said it will schedule new patients for appointments starting in February at the earliest and appointments will continue in the following weeks and months.