The next day for the Orlando FEMA vaccine website shows a higher turnout

ORLANDO, Fla. – The second day of the FEMA mass vaccination site in Orlando began with a higher turnout after the location failed to reach the 2,000-dose capacity on Wednesday.

Hundreds lined up early Thursday at Valencia’s West Campus.

“We have a significant increase over what we had yesterday,” Lieutenant Colonel Troy Fisher said at a news briefing on Thursday afternoon. “We now operate exactly as we had hoped to operate all the time.”

Fisher said the site averaged about 250 photos per hour.

FEMA officials said more than 2,000 doses were given on Thursday.

The site used the remaining doses from Wednesday and also used vaccines from Tuesday’s test.

The site almost reached 90% capacity on the first day, according to officials, accusing less than expected turnout of wet weather on Wednesday morning and the fact that it was the first day.

Officials said they are making changes on Thursday to improve the experience of those who have to wait a while on the spot to get vaccinated.

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“The tents are being erected, we are moving the line to make sure that people are not in traffic or that traffic can continue to flow. So, every day, we improve this site to make sure we can take care of the people of Orlando, ”said Fisher.

The site will operate between 7:00 and 19:00 every day and is expected to remain open for at least eight weeks, according to the Orlando Police Department.

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To encourage greater participation, organizers said they are working to spread the word that no meetings are needed at the location.

Those who are eligible to receive the vaccine can pre-register by clicking or tapping here, however, walk-ups are also accepted.

As of Thursday, an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis states that vaccine-eligible people include anyone 65 and older, law enforcement officers over the age of 50, firefighters 50 and older, and school staff. -12 50 years and over, health workers and extremely vulnerable people with a form signed by a doctor.

However, the federally-run website expanded its eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine on Thursday to include K-12 teachers, child care staff and other school staff following a call from President Joe Biden to inoculate those workers. until the end of the month. Publix, CVS and Walmart have also extended their eligibility requirements to provide photos to those workers.

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[READ: Here’s where Florida teachers, school staff and child care workers can get the COVID-19 vaccine]

Yukeeba Mays, a 49-year-old teacher at West Orange High School, managed to be shot on Thursday after the site began offering photos to those who met the extended criteria, just a day after she was initially removed from the same site. . for failing to meet the state’s age requirement.

She said she was excited to hear that she was now eligible and rushed to get her vaccine as soon as possible.

“I was ecstatic because we should have been a priority on day 1. I mean, I hear about other states opening schools, but we’re open since August, teaching face-to-face (courses) since August, and I’m also immunocompromised. so, going to class every day, I pray to be safe, ”Mays said.

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Katherine Hammond is a 37-year-old teacher who recently extended her maternity leave because she was afraid to go back to school and bring the virus back home. She now said that teachers of any age are able to receive the vaccine, they will feel safer to return to work.

“I miss my kids to the end, I miss the people I work with and that makes me feel so much better when I come back and be able to finish the year strong,” she said.

Shelia Jones is an employee from the K-12 school district over the age of 50 who was also waiting to be shot on Thursday at the FEMA website. She said she was ecstatic that the vaccine was now available to educators.

“I think it’s important. (Teachers) are around children. They need to be vaccinated because they are at risk, ”Jones said.

She said the lines were quite long on Thursday, but everything moved quite smoothly.

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