It's been one year since Hernando County recorded its first COVID-19 case, and local leaders are doing all they can to get their residents vaccinated. 


What You Need To Know


The goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible, especially in the underserved community. And with help from the governor’s office, 3,000 Johnson & Johnson doses are being administered at the Ridge Manor Community Center.

“The request came straight from the governor’s office that these were made available to our community because, unfortunately, we live rather rurally here. And as a result, we don’t have the population density as in other parts of our county,” said Lynn Gruber-White, the president of the Ridge Manor Property Association.

She told Spectrum Bay News 9 that Ridge Manor has about 7,000 residents, and many of them don’t have the ability to travel great distances to get vaccinated.

“We joke about crossing I-75,” she said, which is why she says she jumped out at the opportunity to bring a pop-up site to the neighborhood. 

“It was actually an overwhelming feeling that we’re being recognized because, of course, when you are an undeserved population, you feel like you are not recognized,” Gruber-White said.

At least 2,000 doses are set to be given Sunday and Monday for a weekend total of 3,000 at the location.

And making an appointment to be part of this line is easier than ever. Resident can call 352-754-4083. 

“That was one of the really important things about this site also was because we saw so many barriers with having to use the internet in order to make these appointments and of course that leaves another segment of the population underserved because they don’t have that knowledge,” Gruber-White said.

As of 3 pm on Saturday, appointments are still available for Sunday and Monday.

And on Monday, residents 50 and over will be able to line up to get their dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.