Long lines form for Fayetteville vaccine clinic where only second doses given

A second dose-only clinic for people who have already received their first coronavirus vaccination drew long lines of people Tuesday to the Crown Expo Center in Fayetteville.

Posted 9:44 a.m. Feb 9, 2021 — Updated 12:53 a.m. Feb 10, 2021

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL Fayetteville reporter, & Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporter

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A second dose-only clinic for people who have already received their first coronavirus vaccination drew long lines of people Tuesday to the Crown Expo Center in Fayetteville.

Most of those who showed up for the clinic has scheduled appointments, but some just showed up to essentially fly standby and hope for an opening.

"Tried to get [an appointment. I went online and waited, but they never got back to me. So, we came anyway," said Steve Pritchard, who waited in line with his wife.

Jane Casteo said she also tried to get an appointment online but ran into some problems. She finally was able to make it over the phone.

"He made the appointment for me over the phone for today, and then I got an email confirmation. I've gotten thousands of reminders since then," Casteo said with a laugh.

According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccine doses should still be given as close together in the recommended time frame as possible – three weeks apart (21 days) for the Pfizer vaccine and four weeks apart (28 days) for the Moderna.

The Cumberland County Health Department said the doses shouldn't be given more than six weeks apart if possible, and people shouldn’t get their second vaccine earlier than three weeks from the time they got the first dose.

The Cumberland County Health Department encouraged people to get the second shot at the same location they at which they received the first.

About 1,600 shots were administered Tuesday, but director Dr. Jennifer Green said the health department will start scheduling second doses when administering the first to avoid the standby lines at future vaccination clinics.

Locations, phone numbers to get your COVID shot in central NC

On Wednesday and Friday, the Crown Expo Clinic clinic will offer first and second doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Appointments can be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., then vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis until the clinic closes. Walk-ins may be accommodated before 3 p.m., depending on crowd and supply.

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