Thousands Take Part In Mass Vaccination Event At Bank of America Stadium
CHARLOTTE, NC – The race to vaccinate the population intensified in Mecklenburg county on Friday as concerns of the new COVID variant increase.
Health departments and hospitals are working to set up mass events and increase the number of innoculations as supply slowly picks up.
“I feel great. I didn’t even feel it go in my arm. I was so cold,” said Sylvester Pitt.
Pitt is one of the people who braved the near freezing temperatures today to get their vaccinations at Bank of America Stadium.
“The whole thing probably took us 30 minutes,” said another person leaving the stadium after getting their shot.
Many of the 2400 people who got the shot say they were impressed with the streamlined effort between Atrium Health, Honeywell, and Tepper sports and Entertainment.
“Confidence in living. I feel just a little closer to the safety mark,” said Gloria Harzold, another patient.
The mass vaccination event expanded the availability to the community.
“Reach deeper into some of the underserved communities in Charlotte,” said Dr. Scott Rissmiller of Atrium Health.
Both Atrium and Novant are increasing their vaccination and outreach efforts.
“We know that supply is not matching demand and we look forward to being able to expand that as we are able to get more supply in the future,” said Dr. Pamela Oliver of Novant Health.
Novant has 95,000 vaccination appointments booked for the next few months, with more opening each week. Health officials say there is urgency to get people the vaccine.
“The arrival of a more contagious virus is concerning to us and leaves open the positiliby of further peaks in cases and hospitalizations as we get into the spring,” said Novant Dr. David Pearce.
Doctors say the vaccines have proven to be effective against the variants, and future vaccine modifications can be swiftly made.
“MRNA Vaccines are much quicker to make changes in how the virus is can lead to very rapid adjustment in our vaccine,” said Pearce.
