CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands of teachers, healthcare workers, and seniors rolled up their sleeves across the Charlotte-area over the weekend to get their COVID-19 vaccine, with pop-ups and clinics across the Queen City.
The mass vaccination clinic at Bank of America Stadium spanned the weekend and catered specifically to those getting their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Over the course of the weekend, roughly 20,000 people were expected to become fully vaccinated due to the clinic, hosted in a partnership with Atrium Health, Honeywell, Tepper Sports & Entertainment, and others.
Novant Health also hosted three pop-up clinics across North Carolina Saturday -- two of which were in Charlotte. About 4,400 doses were given out at those clinics, including both first and second doses.
At Novant's east Charlotte clinic, roughly 3,700 people received their second vaccine dose at the Park Expo Center. Over at McClintock Middle School -- 150 Mecklenburg County teachers got their first doses Saturday, as the state continues to prioritize them in Group 3.
Novant's other Charlotte-based vaccination event took place at McClintock Middle School, which was targeted toward teachers and educators. WCNC Charlotte spoke with a 7th-grade teacher who said she signed up as soon as her principal sent the email about the event.
"I am very relieved personally," the teacher told WCNC Charlotte. "Being at risk on the frontlines and wiping down the desks, and rotating classrooms -- teaching is very different these days due to the pandemic and so being able to have one more peace of mind and one more step that protects me, and my students, and my family, is just -- all the steps I can take, I'd be willing to."
Novant's events wrapped up Saturday, but the appointment-only clinic at Bank of America Stadium continued Sunday. And while there have been concerns over the increasing demand for vaccine supply, on Saturday the Food and Drug Administration cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two.
With this authorization, the U.S. now has three COVID-19 vaccines approved for distribution.
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.