Man accused of pulling gun on someone ordering at Collier County Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thruLeague Club of Naples awards record $683K in grants to Collier, Lee nonprofits
Credit: WINK News. UPDATE: Phone lines opened at 9 a.m. and all available slots are now reserved. Lee County tweeted: “The COVID-19 vaccination site reservation call center has reached capacity. Visit leegov.com/vaccine for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccines in Lee County. The state vendor now has a help line 888-499-0851. The line is not able to schedule reservations.” The COVID-19 vaccination site reservation call center has reached capacity. Visit https://t.co/oLbNbKHXPp for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccines in Lee County. The state vendor now has a help line 888-499-0851. The line is not able to schedule reservations. pic.twitter.com/NtxFqsvuOQ — Lee County Government (@LeeCountyFLBOCC) January 20, 2021 Lee County is set to open up the phone lines for more coronavirus vaccine reservations Wednesday. Florida Department of Health issued a warning Tuesday directed at anyone traveling for the vaccine. It says, if you’re not going to your home county, you’re taking a vaccine from someone else. We spoke to people who aren’t giving up and are hoping for their golden ticket. People told us they have already tried two to three times to get their vaccine appointments, but they say they are staying patient anyway and crossing their fingers they will be lucky this week. Wednesday morning will not be the first time Regina Crooks and her husband in Bonita Springs have tried to get a vaccine appointment. “At 9 a.m., I had the number all ready,” Crooks said. “I hit send at exactly 9 o’clock. When it went to 9 o’clock, I was on hold for 40 minutes, and then the recording said, “We don’t have any vaccine left.’” Crooks hopes this next wave will be different. With one call, she and her husband, who has diabetes, hope to finally secure their shots. “I’m going to do it again. I’ll be on the phone at 9 o’clock sharp,” Crooks said. “It’s almost like going for the lottery.” It’s a lottery thousands of people have already won. Lee County is third in the state for the highest number of people vaccinated, with more than 19,000 shots already in people’s arms. The Newmans hope they get lucky too. They’ve been quarantining since the pandemic started. Michael Newman is the only one eligible right now, but they’re trying every option out there. “Publix, we’re going to try that, and then we’ll try at 9 a.m. through the phone system if we’re not successful at 6 a.m.,” Brenda Newman said. “I’ve been calling this a whack-a-mole. We just keep working and trying to see if we hit something.” They refuse to quit and refuse to lose hope. “We will keep plugging away and keep trying,” Michael said. There are 5,800 openings available Wednesday and double the number of agents answering calls from last time. The number to call is 866-200-3468 starting at 9 a.m. for appointments on Thursday, Jan. 21, and Friday, Jan. 22. Lee County is working on an online reservation system to add to the phone reservation system. It will expand statewide once it’s up and running. RESOURCE: WINK News is working by the minute on a daily basis to bring our coverage areas in Southwest Florida the latest COVID-19 vaccine information from the counties you live in. Visit our Latest COVID-19 vaccine schedules and resources story for rolling vaccine updates.