DELAWARE- Some people experienced wait times of up to four hours Saturday in Georgetown in order to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Traffic was backed up for miles on Route 113 with more cars lined up on South Bedford Street.
Dr. Bill Chasanov of Beebe Healthcare told WRDE on Sunday how the operation got better from Saturday’s traffic jam.
“I think we have all learned some lessons from yesterday to help things move through quicker and now people are moving from the beginning of the line to the end I think in about fifteen minutes,” Dr. Chasanov said.
Between three days in Delaware City and two days in Georgetown, over eleven thousand people were vaccinated. Over 4,900 doses were given in Georgetown.
More healthcare facilities are being approved to administer vaccines in Delaware. As of Friday, 290 sites are listed, including pharmacies at Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.
Walgreens and Rite Aid are taking appointments for people 65 and over. Walmart will have seven locations in Delaware providing the shots, but they are not saying when that will start. People in Maryland can start signing up directly at some Walmart stores starting February 1.
Beebe Healthcare President and CEO Dr. David Tam said Saturday safety protocols still need to be followed despite more vaccines going into more arms.
“At the end of the day, you still need to wash your hands, wear your mask, and watch your distance because we don't know yet what vaccinating will do to prevent you from still getting virus and giving it to other people,” Dr. Tam said.
Staying safe still needs to be top priority as the rollout continues.