Hundreds of seniors vaccinated at Singing River Health System drive thru vaccination site

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - In Jackson County, the Singing River Health System vaccinated hundreds of seniors 75 and older on Thursday.

Jason Ely, the director of primary care specialty services for Singing River Health System, had the chance to administer the COVID 19 vaccine to his father.

“My dad has done so many things for me growing up, supporting me in my nursing career and all the things that I’ve done,” said Ely. “And to be able to offer him something and give him something personally that he was able to help me be able to do meant a lot to me.”

And his father was glad to be was one of hundreds to receive the Moderna vaccine Thursday at Singing River’s drive thru vaccination site at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

“I think it’s good to get rid of this virus out of our area and hopefully it’ll be gone soon and we can all get back to our lives,” said Francis Ely.

Singing River worked tirelessly throughout the day to administer around 1,500 doses of the vaccine. Long lines wrapped around the fairgrounds with people anxious to get vaccinated.

“This is a ray of hope that there are, out of all these people vaccinated, there is someone who now will not get it because they are vaccinated,” said Lee Bond, CEO for Singing River Health System. Somebody’s life is being saved right now today.”

People had to make an appointment before getting in line. And though there was a bit of wait, those like Perry Thompson say it was worth it.

“COVID is nothing to mess around with. This is a very deadly virus and I don’t want to be one of those people in the hospital,” said Perry Thompson.

People were grateful to Singing River for helping to protect one of the groups most vulnerable to the virus.

“I’m getting a smile and a thank you, and I actually had a couple of people tell me they love me and they appreciate all we did,” said Jason Ely.

Singing River said they hope to do another drive thru vaccination site in the future once they receive more doses.

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