FORT PIERCE, Fla. — St. Lucie County is hoping to ramp up its efforts to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents who are 65 and older.
Health department officials announced on Friday they're holding a drive-thru mass vaccination clinic on Jan. 11, 12, and 13 at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierce from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
People 65 and older and health care personnel can receive the COVID-19 vaccine by appointment only. To make an appointment, click here.
County health administrator Clint Sperber said he anticipates St. Lucie County will vaccinate around 1,500 per day at the clinic.
"We know current supplies are not enough, so please be patient as more vaccines arrive into the state and eventually into St. Lucie County," Sperber said.
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According to the latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health, there are 15,701 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 424 coronavirus-related deaths in St. Lucie County.
"We want to get back out there, we want to see our friends and get back into our hobbies and live that life that has so much to offer," said Taylor Mazza, resident. The mask-wearing does seem to be lax overall because for so long we were told what to do, where to go, and how to do it."
County Administrator Howard Tipton said St. Lucie County is in the midst of a "second and stronger wave" of the coronavirus, and the county has averaged 190 new cases per day over the last two weeks.
"The numbers are showing us, we are helping this virus spread. We've got to do better," Tipton said. "We are by far-seeing the highest number of cases that we have seen since the start of this pandemic."
Tipton said, despite the numbers, they're not looking to close facilities or modify any county operations.