Two city-run COVID-19 vaccination sites will begin distribution to at-risk Duval County residents front-line medical workers and first responders Jan. 11.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and city public health officials released details and requirements for the sites at the Lane Wiley Senior Center and the Mandarin Senior Center during a news conference Jan. 8.
Curry announced Jan. 7 the city would convert the two COVID-19 testing sites in vaccination centers.
The sites will operate 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, according to a news release.
Curry said the sites are open only to Duval County residents 65 years and older, front-line medical workers and first responders. People do not need to register for an appointment, he said.
According to Curry admission officials, the site will serve people on designated days corresponding with their birthday month:
• Monday – January and February
• Tuesday – March and April
• Wednesday – May and June
• Thursday – July and August
• Friday – September and October
• Saturday – November and December
Curry said this is an attempt to avoid issues reported last week at the Florida Department of Health’s vaccine site and the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
“Please follow these procedures strictly,” Curry said. “We’re doing this given the problems that the health department have had because of overloaded phone lines (and) online scheduling.”
Charles Moreland, the mayor’s office director of community affairs, said people will be required to fill out and submit a vaccine screening and consent form that can be found at www.coj.net/covidvaccineform.
People will need to show a photo ID with a birthdate to get the shot. Health care workers also can bring a work badge, according to the news release.
Moreland said face masks and social distancing will be required while in line. He said people should arrive no later than 6 p.m. to get the vaccine, and the city will not allow overnight waiting.
The two sites will distribute nearly 1,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine daily, with 500 doses at the Mandarin location and up to 475 at Lane Wiley.
The mayor said the Pfizer vaccination is effective against the more contagious strain of COVID-19 that the Orlando Sentinel reported was confirmed in Martin County in late December and first discovered in the United Kingdom in early December.
Curry said the vaccine distribution will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
According to the news release, people in line when the daily allotment is exhausted will be asked to return on their assigned day the following week or make an appointment with the department of health’s Prime Osborn site.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Medical Director Dr. Brad Elias said patients will be required to be monitored on-site for at least 15 minutes by health care and emergency professionals for potential reactions.
Those with certain medical conditions may be required to wait 30 minutes.
“While allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are very rare, we are doing this out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our citizens,” Elias said.
City officials are asking Duval County residents to wear face masks and social distance when possible with only a small percentage of the population vaccinated.
Curry said Northeast Florida still is seeing community spread of the virus.
The Florida Department of Health reported that Duval County recorded 1,264 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Jan. 6. The daily test positivity rate locally was 14.18%.
“Until most of us can get this vaccine, personal responsibility remains our greatest tool in combating the spread of this virus,” Curry said. “So please continue to do your part.”