SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is ramping up in Seminole County.         

On Monday, a website to register for an appointment to get the vaccine crashed as seniors tried to get online. They tied up phone lines as well.

Seminole County officials said when they opened up vaccine appointments for seniors in the county last week, those appointments filled up within just a few hours.

On Monday, the county began vaccinating seniors — those aged 65 and up with appointments — at the Oviedo Mall as part of a two-week pilot program with the state of Florida. More than 8,000 seniors are expected to receive the vaccine by the end of the week, according to county officials.

Seminole is one of eight counties chosen to take part in the program. Anyone without an appointment will be turned away.

Around noon, a long line began to form outside a shuttered Charlotte Russe clothing store. Sylvia and John "Jack" Cowras of Altamonte Springs were first in line.

“The minute we got the alert, I signed us up. We’ve been waiting for it," Sylvia explained. “We’ve been stuck at home, my husband likes to say that there’s not a weed left in his garden, and his garage is clean and neat."

“I clean it up and then I go mess it up so I can clean it up again," he said.

The couple, married almost six decades, has been passing time until today, when they could receive their first of two jabs for the coronavirus.

“I say good riddance to 2020," said Lee Constantine, Seminole County District 3 Commissioner, adding, "There’s hope on the way and we’re here to facilitate that. One shot at a time, we’re going to save lives."

Seminole County facilitated vaccinations of 200 seniors Monday. In following days, they'll average 700 per day, they said, until they reach 8,100.

All appointments, as of noon Monday, were booked for the next two weeks of the pilot program.

“We’re overwhelmed by the community’s willingness to go out and get vaccinated. Protect themselves and protect others,' said Ashley Moore, who works in communications for the county.

Earlier in the day, a website used register for an appointment to get the vaccine crashed as seniors tried to get online. They tied up phone lines as well.

Longwood resident Jaime Ilabaca, 77, will also be among the 7,500 to receive the Moderna Vaccine Monday.

He said he has major health problems and he wants to protect himself the best he can.

“I have COPD you know,” he said. “I have emphysema I have asthma, and I am 77 years old.”

He said even after he gets the vaccine he’ll take preventative measures to avoid contracting the virus.

All of the appointments for seniors getting the vaccine from the county are taken, but Seminole County officials said they’ve requested additional doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines from the state.

The Cowras' agreed: getting the shot is for the "greater good."

“To have a normal life again. This has been difficult for a lot of people," said Sylvia Cowras.

If they get to dance salsa, fish and see their grandkids again, it's worth it.

“A shot is a shot, right? I probably would prefer a tequila shot but this one will do for the time being," added John Cowras.

On December 24, Seminole County put in a request to the state for more vaccines, either Pfizer or Moderna, hoping to convey to the state that the pilot program ran smoothly.

Once the state grants the request and a second allocation of doses, additional appointments will be made available. 

The county will list them on prepareseminole.org.​