JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Anxious and ready to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Floridians ages 60 and up flocked to the newly located satellite vaccination sites today.
The new satellite locations and the age drop are a match made in heaven for many.
QUICK LINKS: How to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in the Jacksonville area
Patients say it’s more than just checking off a box; it brought tears of joy.
“I feel good, I feel like I’m going to hug my grandchildren,” Belinda Felder said. “I have three beautiful grandchildren and a daughter. I haven’t hugged them in a while.”
Emotional and relieved, Felder saw a light at the end of the tunnel in the COVID-19 vaccine.
What felt like a day that wouldn’t ever come now has her hoping more people take advantage of the convenient locations.
“That’s the only way we’re going to be able to stop and contain this virus: Get a lot of people vaccinated,” she said.
The Press Secretary for the Florida Division of Emergency Management said 206 vaccines were administered at Carver Center and 109 were administered at the Oceanway Center.
Back on March 3, the Normandy site did about 100 vaccines all day and Hammond did under 20.
The new Jacksonville Beach location was busy for hours today.
Frank Fuller says it was a long time coming.
He sees it as “the progression of let’s get back to normal,” adding, “I’ve been waiting because I’m 63 ... They released the number, so here I am.”
While Felder says it was a challenging year, knowing she can hug her loved ones again means everything.
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“When I look at my little grandchildren, it hurts because they don’t understand it,” she said teary eyed. “It’s going to be wonderful.”
The satellite sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and each can vaccinate 500 people per day.
They are only administering the Pfizer vaccine.