CLERMONT, Fla. – The vaccine site at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center opened on Friday but only accepted seniors with previously scheduled appointments.
Robin Teets, 65, said she and her husband made the line Friday morning after being told the health department was accepting appointments for vaccinations but they were not aware of a recent change.
“I got a message, a text message [Friday] from the Department of Health saying as of today, they are not taking appointments only. They are only taking first come, first served. Very frustrating when you been here for four hours,” Teets said.
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Officials with the Florida Department of Health in Lake County said due to high vaccine demand, they are no longer accepting walk-ups as they did initially.
The recent change left some people in line Friday feeling frustrated.
“I am very sick, I need to have the vaccine,” a woman said.
Another Lake County couple, Clint and Zandra Venable, were able to score an appointment after making three attempts to get the vaccine.
They, too, arrived to the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center hours before the site opened.
“We are really desperate to get the shot. Our daughter in California has had a couple of strokes and open-heart surgery and we can’t go see her without the shot,” Clint Venable said.
“The Florida Department of Health in Lake County is no longer scheduling COVID-19 immunization appointments but will honor previously scheduled appointments,” a news release from Lake County officials read. “Currently, the Florida Department of Health is only distributing the first dose. Persons who have received their first dose will be contacted to complete the two-dose series.”
For more information about vaccine sites in Lake County click here.