SAN BENITO — For Linda Valley, the coronavirus pandemic dredges dark memories of the polio epidemic that plagued her childhood, crippling her brother’s arm.
On Tuesday, the 79-year-old retired businesswoman was among about 500 people 65 and older who received the COVID-19 vaccine at San Benito’s first community vaccination clinic.
While polio crippled tens of thousands, killing hundreds about 70 years ago in the United States, Valley blames the coronavirus for contributing to far more deaths.
On Tuesday, the U.S. death toll stood at about 470,665, while contributing to about 4,000 deaths across the Rio Grande Valley.
“I lived back in the polio days, getting shots — everything. The needles were real big,” Valley, who used to own a house cleaning business, said Tuesday as she sat in her car after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. “My brother got it.”
For nearly a day, many people waited outside San Benito’s Cameron County Fairgrounds for a chance to take the Moderna vaccine’s first dose on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesday.
Through heavy fog, long lines of cars waited for the fairgrounds’ gates to open at 6 a.m.
“The first group’s been there since yesterday afternoon,” Rene Perez, the South Texas Emergency Care Foundation’s transport director, said as he checked people for any reactions to the vaccine. “You look into their vehicles and see their bedding — a sleeping bag or a blanket. They sleep in their vehicle waiting for their vaccination. They’ve been here at least 12 hours waiting for the vaccine.”
Life-saver
Next to Valley’s car, Deborah Packard said her doctor warned she’s among those whose lives the coronavirus threatens.
After waiting about 11 months, Packard finally received the COVID-19 vaccine which could save her life.
“If I got it, I would probably die,” Packard, 68, a retired nurse from La Feria who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, said, referring to the virus.
Since the coronavirus’ outbreak last March, she’s stayed home, except for her weekly drive to the store to buy groceries and medicine.
“You’re always scared,” Packard said. “You feel like a prisoner. You miss your grandchildren because you can’t visit with them.”
Now, she’s counting on the vaccine to free her from her fear.
“We’re very excited and grateful that this is available and we have been able to get it so quickly,” she said after waiting about six hours in her car.
Perez, a volunteer at Moderna’s clinical trials in McAllen, said his research is showing the vaccine boasting a 94-percent effectiveness rate can offer protection against the virus for about 12 to 18 months.
Then he paused to recall his ambulances’ long delays outside area hospitals strained with COVID-19 patients who have pushed them to capacity during periods of spiking cases.
“It’s 342 days and counting,” he said, noting the approaching first anniversary of the coronavirus’ March outbreak. “It’s been a long ride.”
Community effort
For weeks, city leaders had pushed Cameron County officials for vaccine doses to allow them to set up the city’s first COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
“I feel great,” Mayor Rick Guerra said outside the big metal building that served as a drive-thru vaccination center connecting two parking areas. “We’ve been given a chance to help the citizens of San Benito. We’re learning. We’re trying to learn from our neighboring cities.”
During the last week, city leaders worked with San Benito school district and county officials to plan the clinic while city crews spread caliche onto three sprawling parking lots.
“A lot has gone into this,” Guerra said. “It took a lot of man hours — a lot of planning. Whatever it takes to get this done for the people, just get it done.”
As the clinic’s last car rolled into the vaccination center at about 10 a.m., Assistant City Manager Fred Bell said the city’s costs are eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s reimbursement.
Now, officials are ready for a chance to hold another vaccination clinic, he said.
“We believe it to be successful. We’re happy with the results,” Bell said as he stood with City Manager Manuel De La Rosa. “We’re anticipating this is going to be a repeating event. We’re in it for the long haul.”
