Singer-songwriter Jason Derulo partners with Durham distillery.

Singer-songwriter Jason Derulo partners with Durham distillery.

— The Durham County Health Department will start vaccinating people 65 and older on Tuesday at Southern High School

According to Mayor Steve Schewel, Durham has over 50,000 residents over the age of 65, so it will take time to schedule and distribute the vaccine

To avoid lines, Schewel said, the Durham County Health Department is working diligently with the Duke University Health System to make sure there are enough people to staff phone lines for people making appointments and to vaccinate people at Southern High

"We’ve seen in other counties, and states especially, long lines and then not enough vaccine to meet the needs of the people in those lines

That, we really don’t want," Schewel said

"There are over 50,000 people in Durham that are over 65," he said

"Even if things move quickly, to get 50,000 people vaccinated in addition to all the health care workers, other critical frontline categories, it’s going to take time."

"We are excited to begin this next phase of vaccinations in order to help protect even more of our community," Durham County Health Director Rod Jenkins said in a statement

"My parents are at high risk, and I want to make sure I don’t transmit it to them and make sure I don’t get it," Caroline Anderson said

"I think it’s really exciting that that is coming to Durham, especially with all of us coming back this week from wherever we have been in the country," Jake Malone said

Jenkins said the health department also will start offering Saturday appointments for vaccinations at its office

"By expanding our hours to the weekend and opening an additional vaccination site, we expect to be able to vaccinate an additional thousand people per week," he said