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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Although the city of Jacksonville urged people not to line up before 10 a.m. Tuesday, hundreds of people waited for hours outside the Mandarin and Lane Wiley senior centers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine is available Tuesday for seniors, health workers and first aiders with birthdays in March or April.
On both Monday and Tuesday, hopeful seniors began lining up before dawn at senior centers, which vaccinate Duval County residents 65 and older and front-line medical workers not by appointment, but in function of month of birth.
On Tuesday morning, the line meandered the property with dozens of people 6 feet apart, wearing masks.
“We waited for there to be a long line, so we wanted to be the first in line to get the vaccine,” said Arthur Llaga, a caregiver.
“With all my medical problems, I would be dead if I got it, so would my husband,” Terry Hill said.
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Hours before the doors opened, 78-year-old Ray Gardner also arrived with the lawn chair dragged.
“I plan to do a few more miles, so this is a good way to do it and it’s easy, it’s great, you can go out and walk early in the morning,” Gardner said.
On Monday, people began lining up at the Lane Wiley Senior Center in Westside and the Mandarin Senior Center at 5 p.m. The scene was similar on Tuesday, as seniors ignored the city’s request not to show up before the center’s parking lot opened at 10 a.m. and were allowed to queue. early.
The city said Monday they learn as they go. They had said that as of Tuesday they would not allow anyone to line up before 10 a.m., an hour before the doors opened.
That was not the case at first.
“Unlike many other cities, we will not be draconians. I will not have police officers physically remove people or remove elderly people, “Mayor Lenny Curry told The Morning Show on Tuesday.” The rule is not to line up before 10 o’clock. It is not necessary. “However, those who are there and do it do so in a safe way. I understand that people are worried that they will not succeed, but again, we met all the demand yesterday and we will continue to work with people.”
At one point, people were given a ticket and told they could come back later the day the line would be shorter.
“They made it a lot easier by doing it that way and so it’s good for everyone,” Pat Brennan said.
The city said there are nearly 1,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine available each day between the two sites, as its efforts continue to vaccinate the most vulnerable.
Curry emphasized that the supply is provided by the federal government to the state and then through the state to the city. He said his first dose allocation was about 10,000 doses, and when all are run out, the city will have to wait for more supply before giving more vaccines.
“The reason we asked the state to allow us to make distributions is because we have demonstrated the ability to distribute things to people during COVID-19 in a safe, efficient and responsible manner,” Curry said.
Although vaccinations will be given on a first-come, first-served basis (no appointment required), eligible residents should only visit a vaccination site on the day associated with their month of birth according to the following schedule:
- Monday – January and February
- Tuesday – March and April
- Wednesday – May and June
- Thursday – July and August
- Friday – September and October
- Saturday – November and December
These two vaccination sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, although the line will be cut at 6 p.m. or when the day’s allotment runs out:
- Mandarin Senior Center, 3848 Hartley Road
- Lane Wiley Senior Center, 6710 Wiley Road
All patients must provide photo identification showing their date of birth and proof of residence in Duval County. First aiders and health workers must also wear a work badge.
Toilets inside the senior centers will be available after the building opens during the day.
After receiving the vaccine, patients should remain in place for at least 15 minutes for health care 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, according to the city, this safety measure is underway with great caution. Patients will be able to choose to receive email reminders and text messages about their second dose.
To help with a safe and organized vaccination process, patients should follow the following guidelines:
- You must wear masks at all times.
- Physical distancing requirements must be followed at all times.
- People who feel bad should not go to a vaccination site.
- Only caregivers can accompany patients who need care at a vaccination site.
- Patients should park in designated parking areas; patients cannot be left.
- You will not be allowed to park or wait in line for the night.
- Patients should follow traffic patterns and instructions from traffic monitors (is a map available at JaxReady.com/Virus?).
Patients should print and bring a complete DOH vaccine verification and consent form to the vaccination site. The form is available at COJ.net/CovidVaccineForm.
Between the two sites, the city expects to vaccinate just under 1,000 people each day with the Pfizer vaccine: Mandarin will provide 500 vaccines a day, while up to 475 vaccines will be distributed in Lane Wiley, according to the city. When the daily supply is exhausted, the remaining patients will have the option to return the assigned day the following week or make an appointment with the Florida Department of Health for the location of Prime Osborn.
Vaccines are still being given by appointment at the Prime Osborn convention center, but demand for appointments has exceeded supply, which is likely to continue in the near future. In response, the city announced last week that it was converting senior centers in Mandarin and Westside from COVID-19 test sites to vaccine sites.
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