PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mass vaccinations for seniors have begun in St. Lucie County.
Guillermo Mager said his initial efforts to get a vaccine appointment were frustrating.
“There must be a better way of doing this, " Mager said.
He got a break when he saw St. Lucie County officials on TV Friday.
“I saw the announcement, I got on my computer and five minutes later I had an appointment,” he said.
Mager was one of 15-hundred people to get a shot Monday at the St. Lucie County fairgrounds.
Clint Sperber, the administrator of the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County, said these shots are by appointment only, and they’re at the mercy of the state’s supply chain.
“We empathize and know demand is very high and that’s a good thing. That means people want to get vaccinated and the vaccine will eventually get us out of this virus," said Sperber.
Sperber said you can register through their website, but adds even if it says the event is closing, it’s important to get on their waiting list.
“The supply chain coming into the state of Florida, we don’t know more than a week in advance how much vaccine we’re going to receive," said Sperber.
For people like Janet Zaio, the vaccine brings some additional peace of mind.
"You worry about getting the virus and the fact that we could get a shot and I thought it would be months or years… it was good, " said Zaio.
Another mass vaccination site will be set up next week in Port St. Lucie.