CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of people lined up early Saturday morning to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte Saturday.
Doors for the Novant Health clinic opened at 7 a.m., which offered the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine, and the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Doors were open until 5 p.m. and appointments were required to get the vaccine at the clinic. The clinic was for members of groups 1 and 2, as well as educators and child care workers in the first phase of Group 3.
"We now know we have three vaccines that are highly effective to help keep our community safe to help us return a little bit, day by day to something that we're missing so much," Chief Operating Officer for Novant Health, John Howard said. "Which is that normal interaction in life from the freedom to move about and connect with our families."
The latest numbers according to NCDHHS, show 1,691,290 North Carolinians have received their first of two doses of the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine, while 1,028,728 have also gotten their second shot. Also, 357 people have received the single-shot vaccine.
Around 16% of North Carolinians have been fully vaccinated.
"I'm waiting for a week or ten days then I plan to go out to a restaurant," Jim Breen said after his second dose.
Novant health already had the second dose clinic planned for Saturday, but due to the Mecklenburg County Health Department having extra Johnson & Johnson vaccines, they were able to get more people fully vaccinated.
The clinic focused on getting CMS employees vaccinated. Middle school teacher, Austin Smoke rolled up his sleeve to get the one-dose shot.
"I was going to wait, but when they had just the one-shot, don't have to worry about going a second time, it was right here in town close by, so I just decided to go ahead and do it," Smoke said.
He says it was a no-brainer as the school district is considering options for more in-person learning.
"It's just a good example for the kids to see that we're taking these steps," Smoke said. "If you can get it, get it, don't sit around and wait."
To help get more people vaccinated, CATS is offering free bus and light rail fares to the clinic.
Novant Health officials say they vaccinated around 4,000 people Saturday. 2,000 with Johnson and Johnson, and around 2,000 second doses of Pfizer.
Next week, Atrium Health will hold mass vaccination clinics at Bank of America Stadium and Johnson C. Smith University for front-line essential workers. Atrium said they plan to vaccinate around 14,000 people at the stadium clinic, which runs from March 9-11. Appointments are required for both clinics.
Have a relative or friend in another state and want to know when they can get vaccinated? Visit NBC News' Plan Your Vaccine site to find out about each state's vaccine rollout plan.