COVID-19 Vaccine: Doses distributed at Lake Eola in Orlando

A new vaccination site opened at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando on Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A new vaccination site opened at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando on Wednesday.

Officials say that the vaccination site will be open every Wednesday between 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Single-dose Johnson & Johnson and two-shot Pfizer vaccines will be given.

The site is reportedly open for walk-ups only. Registration is not required. The site is specifically located near the bandshell on Rosalind Avenue.

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"I think a lot of times people don’t really know where these parks (that the vaccinations are done) are," Fernando Patino of Orlando said. "Or, it’s a little further out. We’re all a little used to our ways of living here and the fact that we all know where Lake Eola is."

He added that "I’m one of those that I saw it on the news where like tomorrow come out."

About a dozen people were in line for the first day of vaccinations.

Lake Eola, UCF Lake Nona distributing COVID vaccine

The vaccination site at Lake Eola Park takes only walks ups but appointments are required at UCF Lake Nona.

MORE NEWS: Florida county prepares to distribute Pfizer vaccine to children 12+ soon

Even out-of-towners are taking advantage. Felix Gonzalez is in Orlando on vacation from Honduras. He got a Johnson and Johnson shot.

"We thought that maybe we could get vaccinated," Gonzalez said. "We could give it a try."

Members of the health department’s COVID-19 Strike Team said they were pleased with the turnout.

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"We’ve been pleasantly surprised by people who’ve just walked by and stopped," Orange County Department of Health Strike Team Coordinator Emily Owens Pickle said. "So, that’s a good litmus test to let us know we’re in the exact right place."

The strike team not only wants to vaccinate people who are out for a morning walk, but they also hope to vaccinate those who hang out here and could be experiencing homelessness.

"[We want to] normalize our presence," Owens Pickle said. "So people start to feel comfortable and really see, ‘Oh okay, they’re out here every week. People are getting vaccinated. They’re fine.’"

Meanwhile, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Lake Nona Medical Center will give out first doses of the two-shot Moderna vaccine on Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Those 18 and older can receive the vaccine but appointments are required.

Tune in to FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central Florida news.