HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Huntsville Hospital began vaccinating people 75 and older on Monday at their first Community Vaccination Clinic.
The clinic is located at the Jaycees Building in John Hunt Park. Hospital staff came in on their day off to make sure the clinic ran smoothly.
Hospital officials say they gave 200 people the first dose of the COVID vaccine on Monday. That number will quickly go up. After Monday's soft opening, they plan to vaccinate around 325 to 400 people a day and will ramp up vaccinations as they get more doses.
People who signed up to be vaccinated say they jumped on the opportunity.
Ann Bandgren was one of the first to be vaccinated at the clinic. She said, "I just can't thank God enough for the scientists and the doctors and everybody that created it and we have this option."
Hospital officials say over 2,500 appointments have been made so far. They believe it will take at least a month to get through this next phase.
"We have about 24,000 75 and up citizens in Madison County, and we project about 16,000 to 18,000 will want it," said Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations, Tracy Doughty. "Some people will not want it, and we've got about 16,000 reservations, so I think that's a pretty good testament to our community and the demand for it."
People who got the first shot say they're looking forward to getting back to normal as soon as possible.
"I got married at 18 and I've been cooking ever since, so I want to go to a restaurant," said Bandgren.
Anne Stone was vaccinated on Monday. She said, "I'd like to have people come into my house and eat around my dining room table. We've had a lot of company over the years, and I really have missed that."
When getting the shot, many people thought back to the polio outbreak in the 1950s.
Bandgren said, "I can remember when I was a little girl, my mother taking me for the polio vaccine and we stood at the county courthouse."
"Polio was a deal when I was a child. It's not anymore," said Stone. "We took the polio vaccine in our schools. Everybody took it, so I have no problem taking this."
Huntsville Hospital expects to get another 4,000 doses of the vaccine this week.
If you are eligible and want to be vaccinated, you must make an appointment. To get on the vaccine waiting list, visit huntsvillehospital.org, click “COVID-19 vaccination for people 75 and older” and complete the online form or click here for that form.
People on the waiting list will be contacted by hospital staff to schedule a date and time to be vaccinated.
For more information, click here.
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