LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A mass vaccination event in Lincoln that helped Nebraska record one of its most productive days in its campaign to distribute shots could serve as a model for future events.
Health officials in Lincoln said roughly 2,400 health care workers received the vaccine Friday at the event held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. That helped the state administer 8,701 doses of the vaccine on Friday in what was the second-busiest day of the campaign so far.
Jan. 5 - when 13,660 doses of the vaccine were administered - is the busiest day so far. The state has been averaging about 4,500 shots a day over the past two weeks as it works to speed up distribution of the vaccine.
Pat Lopez, director of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, said Friday's mass vaccination event was successful with most people able to get their shots and get out of the arena in less than 30 minutes.
Currently, the state is receiving about 23,500 doses of coronavirus vaccines each week that are distributed statewide.
The state said 599 cases of the virus were reported Saturday. A total of 186,854 cases and 1,879 deaths have been recorded so far.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus dipped below 400 for the first time since October Saturday when 390 people were being treated.