BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County began vaccinating seniors on Wednesday. Three hundred people 65 years and older were able to sign up to get the first dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

What You Need To Know

The county plans to vaccinate another 300 seniors on Thursday at the Public Safety Building in Bradenton. Starting Friday, they plan to vaccinate up to 500 a day and the drive through site moves to Tom Bennett Park. 

“There is a higher need than we have supply. So as soon as these vaccines are dispersed, the quicker we’ll get more and the quicker we can upscale the operations,” said James Crutchfield, Chief of the county’s Emergency Medical Services. 

Manatee County was initially given 3,500 doses. Once they have used nearly all of them and have 500 left, they will ask the state for additional doses.

Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke with some of the people who were able to get the shot.

“It was both easy and it was quick. It was very well organized. I’m very impressed,” said Richard Gliosca, a Manatee County resident. 

“I’m very happy about it. It took from start to finish less than an hour. Everyone was extremely courteous, they were grateful, they were just thankful people were coming out. And I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to do it this way,” said Brenda Corcoran, a Manatee County resident.

You don’t have to be a resident to sign up for a time slot, but you do need to be 65 years or older. Once you’re signed up, you’ll fill out a consent form. When you arrive to the drive through site at your allotted time, your temperature will be taken. Once you get the shot, you’ll be asked to wait 15 to 30 minutes to make sure you don’t have any reactions to the vaccine. 

When appointments became available online on Tuesday, they filled up quickly. Every time slot is filled through Monday January 4. The county plans to open more time slots on Monday at 2 p.m. You can sign up here.

Health experts caution that even though people are starting to get the first dose of the vaccine, they still need to get the second dose in a few weeks and people should continue to practice social distancing and wear masks.

“This is not going to change those preventive measures that we’re all used to doing now and need to continue doing until we can vaccinate the majority of the community,” said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, the Health Officer at Florida Department of Health Manatee.