FEMA sites now offer photos of Pfizer or J&J

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting Saturday morning, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at Gateway Mall, Normandy Community Center and Hammond Senior Center in Jacksonville.

All eligible individuals who receive a vaccine at any of the locations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Jacksonville will be able to choose the vaccine.

• Gateway Mall – 5200 Norwood Avenue – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Hammond Senior Center – 3312 West 12 St.

• Normandy Community Center – 1751 Lindsey Road

RELATED: Which vaccine is the best?

The Duval County alert system sent a message Saturday morning, reminding those who signed up to its system about who can now opt for a COVID-19 shot.

Those currently eligible to receive a vaccine at a FEMA site include:

• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities;

• People aged 65 or over;

• Health personnel with direct contact with the patient;

• All school staff and daycare workers;

• The most medically vulnerable, regardless of age, with a waiver signed by your doctor;

• Sworn police officers 50 years of age or older; i

• Firefighters 50 years or older.

After many changes in who can opt for photography, some said they thought more people would come out on Saturday, especially teachers, as they are the first weekend getaways in the city, regardless of age.

Announcements

But on Saturday there were no lines at the Gateway Mall.

“I think now is just the point of getting the message out to the community that they can come out here and get the shot,” said Demita Gamble, who was vaccinated Saturday.

FEMA said approximately 790 people were vaccinated Saturday at the Gateway Mall. That’s just over a third of the 2,000 shots you can manage at the site a day.

It was a rainy end of COVID-19 vaccines during the first Saturday in downtown Gateway.

“I was hoping there would be a longer line,” a Duval county teacher said.

“I don’t think it’s advertised enough and a lot of people don’t really know this is happening,” said Roosevelt Gamble, who was vaccinated.

There have been many changes in who can and cannot get the photo on this site. Some people said this could be part of the reason why there isn’t much participation right now.

“I think a lot of people are skeptical about it and they’re afraid of it,” said Maxine Frison, who received the vaccine Saturday.

Announcements

The Department of Health said as of Friday, 137,499 people have completed their vaccine series in Duval County. The series includes two doses of Pfizer and Modern and the unique feature of Johnson and Johnson.

The Department of Health said 1,902,314 people in the state have completed the vaccine series, which means both Pfizer or Moderna shots, as well as the unique J&J shot. Of these, 1,413,491 people are over 65 years old.

The Gateway Mall site is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that he plans to lower the eligibility age from 65 to 60 or 55 or 55, as more vaccine becomes available later this month.