PRIMERA — No long lines or hours of waiting; vaccines were given as fast as possible.
On Thursday, the city of Primera hosted its first drive-through vaccination clinic starting at 6 a.m.
People were given the first doses of the Moderna vaccine. Those attending were required to preregister over the phone during the week.
It was not necessary to be a resident of Primera to get vaccinated, according to Mayor Jorge Ledezma.
Anyone older than 18 with underlying conditions was able to register and get the vaccine.
Ledezma said the city had been preparing for and looking into having a vaccination clinic since December 2020. He said he was hoping to add another one in the next month.
“So far everything is going smooth. I want to wait until we do the second dose, and then ask for more vaccines for another clinic. People need it, and they want something here, something close. And they said they did not want to drive to Los Fresnos and wait eight or 10 hours,” he said.
“Here it is as you come. No waiting in line and no hours, if anything five to 10 minutes. I am glad TSTC is here with their volunteers, and our police department is doing a hell of a job along with the constable department directing the traffic,” Ledezma said.
After people got their vaccine, they had the option of waiting in case any side effects were to arise.
Ledezma said the EMT team was also on site in case anyone had a reaction, whether it was nausea or other common reactions.
“This is for the general public,” he said. “A lot of people are asking when we are opening for everyone, if they are not 55 or have any conditions. I tell them I am working on that, but it is not up to me,” he said.
Esmeralda Guajardo, Cameron County Health Administrator, was also at the clinic.
Guajardo said Primera had been preparing to host the clinic before the winter storm arrived in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Because of the weather, they had to postpone it. They have been ahead of the game. This is what happens when they plan accordingly, and it is a very successful event,” she said.
Guajardo added that hosting more clinics depends on how many vaccines are available and distributed to Cameron County.
“We look at two things when we start setting up. One is traffic control and I look at the logistics and how they are going to vaccinate people. I do think a lot of municipalities as they see smaller towns like Primera being successful and doing 300 in a short period of time, they are going to be interested,” she said.
“We cannot do this alone. I keep stressing there is no way one entity alone can do this alone. It takes partnerships and teamwork and this is what is going on right now,” Guajardo said.
Veronica Guerrero, TSTC nurse instructor, said the clinic was very well organized, and she knew the clinic would end earlier than scheduled because of how well planned it was.
“We have given around 150,” she said at 9 a.m. “It is a smaller clinic, but it is very well organized. The main thing is to contact healthcare providers to make sure they are eligible and to follow CDC guidelines. Also, they watch out for side effects and any reactions,” Guerrero said.
“We are very happy with the city of Primera and everyone who has helped organize this,” she said.
Miguel Cecenas, 18, of La Feria, said the vaccine did not hurt at all.
“It was very simple. I had been waiting for a while for it,” he said.
“It is nice to have it here, easier access,” he said.
Juan Cecenas, a relative of Miguel, also got the Moderna vaccine and was happy to have done so.
“It is great. It gives you extra protection. It took a while to register. It took me over a thousand phone calls because the line was busy and busy, but it was worth it,” Juan said.
Both will be receiving their second dose on March 25.
“Just wishing more people will get vaccinated so we can get back to some normalcy,” he said.
