WRAL's David Crabtree got his COVID vaccine for the cameras on Friday to help show people what the process is like. He says it is possible to get a vaccine; it just takes patience and persistence to find an appointment.
SOMEONE THAT WOULD DO THAT.>>> IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A VACCINE APPOINTMENT REGARDING YOUR NAME ON THE LIST, YOU CAN STILL DO IT. OUR REPORTER FOUND OUT IT IS A MATTER OF PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE.>>> WE HAVE SEEN THE LONG LINES AND THE SCRAMBLE IN THE RUSH TO GET THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE. HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, THE PACE IS A BIT MORE RELAXED. AFTER CALLING AROUND TO SEVERAL COUNTIES, I FOUND A MIDDAY DEPARTMENT AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.>> BECAUSE THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM, COUNTY BOUNDARIES ARE NOT BARRIERS. THERE IS NO TELLING WHO YOU MAY RUN INTO IN THE LOBBY. PEOPLE LIKE THE FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN EVA CLAYTON. THE FIVE-TIME REPRESENTATIVE FEELS IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.>> I KNOW THERE IS SOME RESERVATION.>>> IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO GET THE SHOT THAN TO SUFFER. THIS IS SOMETHING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS.>> NEXT UP IT IS MY TURN AT THE CAPABLE HANDS OF THE NURSE.>> HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE YOU GIVEN? >> A LOT. >> THIS EFFORT IS PERSONAL. >> THE FIRST TIME YOU GAVE ONE, IT MUST'VE FELT VERY SPECIAL TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING.>> IT IS DEFINITELY SPECIAL. WE DO NOT FOLKS TO PASS AWAY FROM IT.>> THAT IS THE GO. THREE, TWO, -1. >> ALL MY NOW. A GIFT FROM FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO RISK THEIR OWN SAFETY FOR EVERYONE OF US. >> THAT IS WHAT NURSING IS ALL ABOUT.>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEART FOR TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.>> THEY JOIN US NOT TO SHARE MORE THAT EXPERIENCE. I KNOW YOU DO NOT LIKE MAKING THE STORY ABOUT YOU BUT WE DO WANT TO SEE THE PROCESS.>> THAT IS CORRECT. THE STORY IS NEVER ABOUT US. MY GOAL WAS TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VACCINE. BE PERSISTENT. CALL AROUND. JUST KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS VEXING. WHEN YOUR TIME COMES MAKE SURE YOU TAKE IT. THE STAFF THERE WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TODAY. BY THE WAY THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANY MORE APPOINTMENTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF THEIR CURRENT DOSAGE. THERE WAITING ON MORE TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR 30 YEARS. SHE TURNED TO HER GRANDSON AND SAID WHEN WE FIRST MET, NEITHER ONE OF US HAD GRAY HAIR.>>> YOU NOTICE ANYBODY THAT WAS APPREHENSIVE? >> NOT AT ALL. EVERYONE THERE WAS SAYING, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED THIS. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT WAS THE SAME THING. HE FELT HUMBLED. HE FELT RELIEVED. HE FELT EXCITED TO KNOW THE PROCESS HAD BEGUN TO BE PROTECTED. IT IS NOT THERE WAS ONE DOSE BUT IT IS A START. I FEEL INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE. >> I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET TO YOUR GRIN.>> MY SECOND DOSE HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED.