VCC Member Will Take Vaccine When It’s Available

DeLand, FL – With a panel of independent experts recommending that the Food and Drug Administration authorize the Moderna vaccine for emergency use,  eight hospitals across Volusia and Flagler counties could be receiving the vaccines as early as next week. Whenever the vaccine is available to her, Volusia County Council District 1 Representative Barb Girtman says she is ready to get it. During the Council meeting earlier this week, Girtman said that she knows there are many people who are hesitant for a variety of reasons but she says she believes in the science. "I want to be one of the examples of local leaders that believe in the science.  Although it’s much faster than it’s been done in the past, I believe it’s because our science has improved and that we can trust it." Girtman says she believes that the black and brown communities have been hit harder because the population is smaller and they’re more on the frontlines of a lot of the services throughout the community. Girtman says she wants her mother to get the vaccine when it’s available and is hoping that she will follow her example. The best way to get ahead of the virus, according to Girtman, is to continue to take the precautions of the county campaign: "Wash up. Back up. Mask up." and to consider taking the vaccine. "I have greater concern of those that I see in the ICU and the long-term effects that COVID has on our residents. I have a greater concern of that than I do of the side-effects of the vaccine."