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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville will open another COVID-19 vaccination site at a senior center, this time in one of the city’s underserved neighborhoods.
Mayor Lenny Curry said Thursday that he heard requests from City Council members to get COVID-19 vaccines in Jacksonville’s underserved communities and that he was ready to respond when the city learned a few days ago that it would get another one. Pfizer vaccine assignment.
“When given the resources and opportunity, the city of Jacksonville is able to conduct operations quickly and efficiently to safely deliver this life-saving vaccine to the public,” Curry said. “If and when more vaccines are available, we will be prepared to open additional sites in other areas of the community.”
He said the latest allocation is enough to give 975 patients the first and second dose of the vaccine.
Doses will be distributed Friday and Saturday this week (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days) at the Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center at 4575 Moncrief Road, north.
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“By locating a site here northwest of Jacksonville, we’re taking advantage of the limited allocation we have in a way that has the biggest impact,” Curry said.
Vaccines are still limited to people 65 and older, first-line medical workers and first aiders.
While he doesn’t limit new vaccination sites to people living in a particular neighborhood, Curry hopes people will respect that this community has a great need for them.
The city will administer 500 doses on Friday and 475 doses on Saturday.
“While we are pleased to have received this allocation, we need more to truly mitigate the risks and protect the health and safety of our community,” said Curry, who added that he will continue to work with state and federal officials to try ensure more vaccine for the city. “Like I said before, we don’t control the supply chain, but we’ve made it clear to whoever does it that we’re willing to take action when supplies are available, as we do today.”
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City Councilor Reggie Gaffney said he thanked the mayor and Charles Moreland, the city’s director of community and international affairs, after a group of council members approached them to find the opportunity to get vaccines against COVID-19 in the unattended area of the north. .
“I want to thank you both for listening to our cries. That’s why we’re here today, “said Gaffney. “That’s just the beginning.”
Curry also thanked board members who spoke for their poorly served communities to “make sure the voices of your members are always heard.”
“People need to know he’s looking for them and he’s always defending them,” Curry said.
During the announcement, the mayor and City Council members were asked about the skepticism some have about the vaccine. Councilman Sam Newby spoke and urged everyone who might be vaccinated. She was one of the first well-known people in Jacksonville to come down with COVID-19 and said she almost died
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“You don’t want to be in the situation I was in (where) I tell my wife I won’t get it, (to) take out the insurance policy because it’s a deadly, deadly disease.” “Newby said.”
Newby said the vaccines the city offers in downtown Northside are not enough on their own, but they are a good start.
See the full announcement of the press conference below:
No appointments are needed to get vaccinated at the Brown Senior Center, but to avoid large crowds and to promote social distancing, Eligible patients should only visit the vaccination site on the day associated with their month of birth:
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Friday: birthdays from January to June
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Saturday: birthday from July to December
All patients must provide photo identification showing their date of birth, while first aid and health care workers must also wear an employee badge.
For convenience, patients are offered a voucher that allows them to return to the site the same day to receive the vaccine.
While the Department of Health’s verification and consent form will be in place, patients are encouraged to print and bring a completed form to reduce waiting time. The form is available at COJ.net/CovidVaccineForm.
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To facilitate a safe and organized vaccination process, patients must follow the following rules:
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You must wear a mask at all times.
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Physical distancing requirements must be followed at all times.
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People who feel bad should not go to a vaccination site.
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Patients should be in line before eight in the morning and four in the afternoon
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Only caregivers can accompany patients who need assistance at the vaccination site.
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Patients should park in designated parking areas; patients cannot be left on the line.
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You will not be allowed to park or wait in line for the night.
After receiving the vaccine, patients should remain in place for at least 15 minutes for health and emergency professionals to monitor for possible reactions. Depending on the medical history, some people may have to wait 30 minutes. Although allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are rare, this safety measure is kept out of great caution.
Patients must return to the Clanzel T. Brown Center for the Elderly 21 days after the first shot to receive the second dose. Follow-up appointment reminders will be provided through phone calls and text messages.
JTA said it has direct service to the Clanzel Brown Community Center through Route 3 – Moncrief.
It also provides a direct service through your Northside ReadiRide Zone and a new one ReadiRide Core Northwest area established to serve the area.
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JTA offers FREE trips to all those who get vaccinated (people over 65).
For ReadiRide reservations:
– Guests must arrange a trip at least 24 hours in advance by calling (904) 679-4555.
– Seniors only need to show their ID to the driver to go FREE (available for both bus services and ReadiRide).
You can find more information about all of JTA’s efforts for vaccinations at health.jtafla.com.
The Alian Minister AME also offers free transportation on Fridays and Saturdays to those who need to get to the center to get a vaccine.
Those in need of a trip can call them at 904-739-7500.
Due to the vaccination operation, Agape Health, a city-contracted COVID-19 testing provider that normally operates outside the senior center, will temporarily move the testing to the following locations:
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AGAPE Dunn – 1680 Dunn Ave. – 32218
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AGAPE Blanding – 5460 Blanding Blvd. – 32244
These test sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 5.
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For help, citizens can call 630-CITY (2489) to stay connected with a customer service representative.
“An important reminder that testing is still a critical tool we have as we fight this virus while it’s with us,” Curry said. “The tests are available. If you need a test, do a test “.
The city’s new center’s vaccination site opens when a group of local churches and community leaders announced their own plan to do the same. Florida church leaders are pushing for more than 80 churches in underserved areas to become vaccination clinics, with nine in Northeast Florida.
“We are alarmed by the small number of minorities who have received vaccines so far,” Pastor RL Gundy said. “This movement is about saving lives and addressing health disparities.”
But it is unclear where the vaccines will come from and when they will arrive. Local leaders hope to get it directly from the federal government.
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“In our working group, we have Congressman Al Lawson, Congressman Val Demmings. So we’re working with delegations from Congress to make sure we do it right, ”said former Mayor Alvin Brown.
Gundy said the city’s effort to open the Northside Center for Limited Vaccines is “a start.”
“It’s more reactionary than is properly anticipated,” Gundy said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is also expanding the number of vaccines aimed at the grocery store giant Publix.
President Joe Biden’s administration announced it earlier this week will expand access to COVID-19 vaccines distributing them to 6,500 retail pharmacies next week. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Sams Club and Winn Dixie will join Publix to vaccinate more people.
“Grocery stores don’t just go to underserved areas, nor do pharmacies. Think of it as if you have a food desert, you usually have a pharmacy desert, ”said Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation.
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Joshi said it’s still not enough.
“Just like we would like to do in the rest of our community, we need to have other ways to access the vaccine and not just look at the big pharmacies,” Joshi said.
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