Karen Gleason
Hundreds of Del Rio and Val Verde County residents converged on the civic center Saturday for a daylong COVID-19 vaccination event.
Persons who arrived at the civic center after making appointments online were ushered into the Red Oak Ballroom on the north side of the facility and funneled through a receiving line to make sure their paperwork was in order.
Those set to receive the Pfizer vaccine were then directed to one of five vaccination sites inside the Red Oak where nurses administered the shots.
After receiving the shot, persons were directed to the Pecan Ballroom on the south side of the civic center for a recommended 15-minute wait to make sure they did not suffer an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
“This is unbelievable,” Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said as he surveyed the orderly flow of persons in and out of the civic center.
Owens gave high marks to Val Verde Regional Medical Center and to County Emergency Management Coordinator Rowland Garza, Val Verde County and City of Del Rio Local Health Authority Dr. J. Gutierrez and Assistant Val Verde County and City of Del Rio Local Health Authority Dr. Laura Palau for organizing and executing the event.
“We have nurses from the school district, the hospital, some of the local health providers. You’ve got the fire department, EMS, the police department, the sheriff’s office. It’s one of those deals where everyone pitched in, and it’s just amazing to see,” Owens said.
He said the organization and swift service were “impressive.”
“It’s just a great, great, great team effort, by everyone. It’s pretty amazing,” Owens added.
He said the county, city and hospital are working together to make the vaccination events a regular feature until all local residents who want to be vaccinated can be.
“Right now, we’re like everybody else, just waiting on the vaccine,” Owens said.
