Public-private partnership creates popular Tuesday vaccination location
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- People lined up six-feet-apart by a ballroom entrance at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort on Tuesday, but they weren't checking in for an event ,they were waiting to get their second dose of the Moderna vaccine.
Nancy Lapolla said essential workers have appointments to get their final vaccination dose.
Lapolla is the manager of the Point of Distribution or POD held every Tuesday.
She recalls coming to the Hilton for an EMS event and loves the location by the ocean.
"Today we are vaccinating a little over 1300, and it is a wonderful location, it is a great partnership with the Hilton, and all of our volunteers, the Medical Reserve Corps is out in force, we have nurses and doctors volunteering, and it is just great for us to get out and get as many vaccinations into arms as we can," said Lapolla.
Some of the people in line Tuesday afternoon are day care workers.
"I feel safe because I can go back to work and I can be around, yeah, and it didn't hurt, " said Elizabeth Padilla of the Isla Vista Youth Project.
Some people driving by the line could be heard asking for directions to the Lobby. The hotel is open for guests and appeared busy with families checking in for vacations.
On Thursday, California will open vaccination appointments to people 50 and over. Santa Barbara County gets more vaccinations delivered every week and plans to have the supply needed to meet the demand.
Since some people are reluctant to get the vaccine it may be easier to make and appointments available without a lengthy wait.
Julie Bischoff said she isn't rushing to get vaccinated.
Bischoff cited a March article in The Epoch Times that claims the Centers for Disease Control skewed virus fatalities higher. She said that is one of reasons she isn't making an appointment.
She also questions the safety of COVID19 vaccines.
"This vaccination has not been tested for the 5 years that is normally requires to bring a vaccine to market. I am reluctant to put something like that into my body until more time has passed," said Bischoff.
Another woman reluctant to be vaccinated said believes she has already developed immunity by having an illness last January that may have been COVID-19.
But people volunteering to administer the vaccines and people getting vaccinated hope more people will get vaccinated for their health and the health of others.
Tiano Lang works at Trader Joe's in Goleta and said he wants to do his part to help create herd immunity.
