BRADENTON, Fla. — Cars lined up on Wednesday at the Public Safety Center in Bradenton, where seniors were able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
ABC Action News was told folks who had an appointment were able to stick their arms out and get the shot.
In Sarasota, seniors waited in line inside the county health department.
Both counties received 3,500 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday to distribute to seniors.
Appointments are required and have filled up quickly.
John and Nancy Flynn called 3-1-1, which you can do in Manatee County to help make an online appointment. They are snowbirds from Boston and missed their 50th-anniversary celebration this year because of the virus. They say they’re dreaming about being able to return to a life they once knew.
“I have a bad back, and I’d like to get a therapeutic massage maybe I could go to the massage therapist, but most of all, I want to hug my family,” said Nancy Flynn.
One of the biggest issues in both counties has been trying to book an appointment online through Eventbrite. The counties created this booking process as a way to start rolling out the vaccine quickly, but the appointments fill up almost as soon as they open up.
County officials tell people to be patient and keep checking the website for more times as more vaccines come in.
The requirements in both counties to be able to get a vaccine are you must make an appointment online, you have to be able to prove you are 65 and older and you must be able to return in 28 days to get the second vaccine.
For more information on how to book an appointment online in Manatee County, click here, or for additional help dial 3-1-1.
For more information on how to book an appointment online in Sarasota County, click here.
