Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
High Demand Closes Fresno COVID Vaccination Drive-Thru Line at 6 a.m.
gvw_nancy_price
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 4 years ago on
January 15, 2021

Share


Hundreds of cars were lined up when Rick Lembo arrived at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics early Friday morning to restart the drive-thru COVID-19 inoculations at the Spruce Avenue site.

The first in line had arrived at midnight, including one man who put a mattress in the back of his van to get some sleep while he waited, Lembo said. The man was holding a place in the line for his elderly

“He said, ‘If I would do this on Black Friday for a TV, I would do this for my grandma.’ “ — Rick Lembo, Sierra Pacific Orthopedics, quoting a man who lined up at midnight

“He said, ‘If I would do this on Black Friday for a TV, I would do this for my grandma,’ ” Lembo said.

Lembo said that he became concerned at 5:30 a.m. when he saw how many cars were already lined up. At 6 a.m., the decision was made to announce that the site could not inoculate everyone who was in line.

But many in the line that still snaked mid-morning Friday from Spruce to Cedar, Alluvial, and down Millbrook to the Herndon Avenue frontage road were bound to be disappointed to learn that Sierra Pacific, the only drive-thru provider in the city as of Friday, only had 1,000 doses available.

Lembo, Sierra Pacific’s director of sports medicine, said the center tried to notify people but had limited means to do so. He was hoping more doses might become available on Friday.

More Doses from County?

Lembo said that he had asked the Fresno County Department of Public Health to provide an emergency allotment so more vaccines could be administered at the site. But he learned just before noon that none were coming.

A Clovis Unified School District Police car could be heard driving slowly next to the line of cars, their engines idling for hours, announcing that the vaccine had run out and they should return on Tuesday when the vaccination clinic resumes.

Sierra Pacific Orthopedics had closed to those seeking COVID-19 vaccinations by noon Friday. (GV Wire/Nancy Price)

Sierra Pacific is getting its vaccine directly from Moderna, the manufacturer, through McKesson, the distributor, and not from the county, but those doses are going fast, Lembo said.

The next shipment of 7,500 Moderna doses will come to Sierra Pacific on Tuesday, he said.

Lembo said Sierra Pacific is seeking vaccines through the county, and if any arrive on Monday the center will reopen to vaccinations. Sierra Pacific is putting updates on its Facebook page, CEO Jeremy Eland said.

Seventy-five and Older Only

On Friday, the center transitioned back to providing vaccines only to those age 75 and older, based on direction from the Fresno County Department of Public Health, Eland said.

*****COVID Vaccine Update*****

We have limited vaccine doses available today and a huge turnout at the drive-thru this…

Posted by Sierra Pacific Orthopedics on Friday, January 15, 2021

The county Health Department also has asked Sierra Pacific to limit vaccines to no more than 1,000 per day, so that the center can remain open Monday through Friday, Lembo said.

Sierra Pacific began en masse inoculations on Wednesday at the Herndon and Spruce centers and then focused on the drive-thru operations on the Spruce center just west of Cedar Avenue in northeast Fresno. Most of the center’s spacious parking lot has been designated for the vaccination process, including registering, the shot itself, and then the mandatory 15-minute wait afterward.

By Thursday, when many learned via word-of-mouth that vaccinations were available to the general public, long lines of traffic were snaked along the curb lanes for blocks leading to the center.

Lembo said the high demand for the vaccine might be met if other healthcare providers can step forward to provide similar services.

“I can’t help everybody, and I want to help everybody,” he said.

Dan Manriques, an officer with the Clovis Unified School District Police, which has been providing security at Sierra Pacific, said he was concerned about how people would react when they learned they had waited hours but would not be getting a vaccination.

“I feel bad for them,” he said.

Lembo said the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will join Clovis Unified to provide security at the site starting on Monday.

Fairgrounds Vaccination Appointments Fully Booked

Meanwhile, the Fresno County Department of Public Health is providing vaccinations at the Fresno County Fairgrounds in southeast Fresno seven days a week, but people need to register for an appointment. On Thursday, people waited on foot in lengthy lines at the fairgrounds to get their shots.

As of mid-morning Friday, the website reported that all appointments have been filled, but people should check back when new days are posted for appointments.

Vaccinations at Central East High School

United Health Centers began providing COVID-19 shots to people 75 and older at 9 a.m. Friday at Central East High School.

UHC said that it had 500 doses and would administer the shots until it ran out — or until 3 p.m.

The school is at 3535 N. Cornelia Ave. in Fresno.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

DON'T MISS

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

DON'T MISS

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

DON'T MISS

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

DON'T MISS

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

DON'T MISS

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

DON'T MISS

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

UP NEXT

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

UP NEXT

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

UP NEXT

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’ a Christian Comedy, Scores With Audience in Fresno Premiere

UP NEXT

Clovis Wants to Rein in Short-Term Rentals. Hearing Is Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Clovis Serves Up a Special Day for Veterans and Community

UP NEXT

Dust Storm Knocks Out Power in Fresno Area, Causes Massive Pile-Up in Madera

UP NEXT

Free Sandwiches in Fresno. No Strings Attached, Says Marijuana-Themed Deli.

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

10 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

11 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

11 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

11 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

11 hours ago

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

11 hours ago

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

11 hours ago

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

11 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

12 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

14 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “D...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

10 hours ago

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

10 hours ago

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

10 hours ago

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

11 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

11 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

A Fresno County man has been indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly submitting over $300,000 in falsified disability claims using stolen identities. (GV Wire File)
11 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 15, 2016. (AP File)
11 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

Search

Send this to a friend