County working through challenges as vaccinations continue at Indio Fairgrounds

Riverside County is working through some challenges they faced during the first day of vaccinations at their drive-up clinic at the Indio Fairgrounds.

“Every time someone comes and they’re not in the proper phase or they didn’t make an appointment, they’re making passion pleas to our staff there trying to get in," Shane Reichardt with Riverside County Emergency Management Department told News Channel 3 on Monday.

People experienced long lines and delays at the clinic on Sunday. The county says people without an appointment or in the wrong tier of their vaccination plan will be turned away.

Read more: COVID-19 Vaccination clinic begins at Indio Fairgrounds

A different story on Monday as lines were much shorter and signs posted everywhere told people who can get vaccinated.

“So far so good," Curtis Howard told News Channel 3 while waiting in. "We had friends that came here Sunday and they waited four hours and we’ve only waited for one and we’re just about next so it’s been a good experience so far," he said.

“The process has been good," Mathan Sheppard said. "Pretty efficient, pretty quick. I’m glad we get to wait in our cars and not outside standing so it has been pretty good," he added.

This week, the Indio fairgrounds is open to vaccinate healthcare workers and people working within phase 1A tiers one through three with appointments only on Sunday and Monday. The same site is open to the general public for COVID-19 testing Tuesday through Saturday, but that can change.

The county says they should be announcing more vaccination locations very soon.