Orange County leaders seeking more COVID-19 vaccine doses to meet demand

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Monday marked the first day people 40 and older could sign up for a vaccine appointment at the Orange County Convention Center.

It also marked the first day people 50 and up could get a shot anywhere in the state.

This demand has leaders asking for more doses.

READ: COVID-19 vaccine demand surges as Orange County, Florida lower eligibility age

The convention center site booked 7,000 appointments in 13 minutes for those at least 40 years old, the only place in Florida where residents age 40-49 can get the shot.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the portal to book appointments will be up and running again “soon, I just can’t say exactly when.”

Demings said they could easily be doing more vaccines there daily and “perhaps do double the volume through the convention center,” which would be more than 6,000 shots a day.

READ: Road to herd immunity hits hurdles with ‘wait-and-seers’

“We need more doses,” Demings said. “It all starts with inventory.”

He has written the state requesting more doses.

One place that is seeing an increase in supplies is the federally supported vaccination site at Valencia College’s west campus.

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