MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Hundreds were taking advantage of their opportunity to get vaccinated Monday morning in Mooresville at a first-come, first-serve clinic.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic opened at Mazeppa Park at 10 a.m.
[ County-by-county guide: Here’s when, where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine ]
Health officials said people were not allowed to camp overnight or arrive before 7 a.m., but Channel 9 saw a handful of cars waiting in line as early as 5 a.m.
The county said they only have a few hundreds doses to give away, and health officials expect the clinic to be busy because teachers and child care workers are eligible to line up alongside health care workers and people 65 and older.
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People like Angelina Berryman showed up overnight to secure one of the COVID-19 vaccine doses. She was the first in line.
“The last time we came around 7 a.m., the line was all the way down the road and we were told to get here early this time,” Berryman said.
“My wife is a teacher so she got hers last week,” child care worker Scott Kazura said. “Obviously, my parents have gotten theirs. I said I’m available for Group 3 and I want my shot.”
He said he expected an even more packed crowd, based on previous events, after the county canceled another clinic due to delayed vaccine shipments.
“Getting my COVID shot, the group is finally available and I am excited for it,” Kazura said.
[ ALSO READ: Iredell County COVID-19 vaccine clinic meets capacity hours before event starts ]
To help speed up the process, the health department asked people to fill out their registration form before they got to the vaccination site. It asks your name and what line of work you are in.
This could also be the last time the county will offer a first-come, first-serve vaccine clinic. The county is working to improve its system to make the vaccine more accessible. The health department is working on an appointment system to make future clinics run smoothly.
“It will be an online appointment system similar to what other counties are using and hospital systems,” Megan Redford with the Iredell County Health Department said.
They expect to have more information this week and the system is expected to launch sometime towards the end of the week.