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Puerto Rico health officials take to beaches to give shots

Associated Press
·1 min read
  • People relax on the shores of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    People relax on the shores of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • People wade in the waters of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    People wade in the waters of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign on the Isla Verde public beach as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign on the Isla Verde public beach as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A healthcare worker inoculates 71-year-old Genaro Otero with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    A healthcare worker inoculates 71-year-old Genaro Otero with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Women relax on the shores of the Ultimo Trolley public beach during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    Women relax on the shores of the Ultimo Trolley public beach during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A woman sits during the observation period after she was inoculated against COVID-19 during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    A woman sits during the observation period after she was inoculated against COVID-19 during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A healthcare worker inoculates 59 year-old Raymon Diaz with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
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    Virus Outbreak Puerto Rico

    A healthcare worker inoculates 59 year-old Raymon Diaz with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
People relax on the shores of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
People wade in the waters of the Isla Verde public beach near a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign on the Isla Verde public beach as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A healthcare worker inoculates 71-year-old Genaro Otero with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Women relax on the shores of the Ultimo Trolley public beach during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A woman sits during the observation period after she was inoculated against COVID-19 during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A healthcare worker inoculates 59 year-old Raymon Diaz with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the “Noche de San Juan” festivities, a traditional all-day celebration to mark the birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Ultimo Trolley public beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. This year COVID-19 vaccines will be available to devotees heading to the beach to celebrate the saint’s June 24th feast day. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Health officials in Puerto Rico took to the beaches on Wednesday to vaccinate people as crowds began to arrive to celebrate a local tradition.

Dozens of doses were administered near the ocean in the capital of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory of 3.3 million people where 70% of people have received their first dose. Among those were Luis Pérez Mingeti, who was vaccinated at a public beach in the northern coastal town of Carolina.

“In all honesty, I really didn’t want to (get the vaccine) like many people who have tremendous taboos regarding the consequences of the vaccine, but I understand that they are beliefs promoted by social networks,” he said.

Another 1.58 million people in Puerto Rico have received their second dose.

Authorities said they wanted to take advantage of the crowds heading to the beach to celebrate the “Night of San Juan,” which marks the birth of St. John the Baptist.

Puerto Rico has reported more than 122,800 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths.