DELTONA, Fla. – Lines were moving quickly Thursday morning as Volusia County began its first appointment-only vaccination event for people 65 and older.
The two-day distribution was scheduled from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Dewey O. Boster Park.
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A total of 2,000 appointments were filled less than 15 minutes after registration opened.
“We did see all those registrations fill up very quickly and so far, today, this system has worked very well,” Volusia County Spokeswoman Kate Sark said.
The event came after hundreds of seniors waited for several hours at the county’s first-come, first-serve vaccine distribution in Daytona Beach on Monday and Tuesday.
Bob Burfield had one of the first appointments on Thursday and said he initially tried to get vaccinated earlier in the week.
“We saw how long the lines were, we just went home,” he said. “I’m 81 years old and for me to stay in the car all night, I just can’t do it.”
Several seniors who received doses of the vaccine on Thursday said the county’s appointment system was working well.
“I think it was awesome,” Kathy Bricker said. “If they do it this way, then it will be much, much better.”
Volusia County officials said offering vaccinations by appointment only will continue for the near future, however the next event won’t be scheduled until additional doses of a vaccine are received.
For additional details about Volusia County vaccination events, visit volusia.org/coronavirus.