State-Run Vaccination Site To Relocate To Stadium Next Week

Tampa FL

23 February, 2021

3:28 PM

Description

TAMPA, FL — Following complaints of long lines of cars backed up at the state-run coronavirus vaccination site at the University Square Mall, the state has decided to move the site to a parking lot near Raymond James Stadium. The University Square Mall site at 2200 E. Fowler Ave. is the only permanent vaccination site in Hillsborough County, which chose to use the state-run vaccination site. The site launched Jan. 21 and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's being manned by contracted nurses and members of the Florida National Guard. Pinellas and Pasco counties are running their own vaccination sites using the vendor CDR Maguire Health and Medical. Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Pat Kemp said she's been inundated with phone calls and emails from seniors who have gotten appointments for vaccinations at the University Square Mall site. They've reported cars lined up from the mall down Fowler Avenue with some seniors waiting as long as five hours to receive their vaccination. The site's also causing headaches for businesses along Fowler Avenue, which say the lines of cars are preventing customers from entering their parking lots. In response to the complaints, the state reduced the number of appointments at the vaccination site and enlisted the help of the Florida Highway Patrol, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Tampa Police Department to control traffic while searching for a second vaccination site in Hillsborough County. But the problems have persisted, so the state has decided to move the site. "The state-supported vaccination site at University Mall will relocate to Raymond James Stadium next week," said Samantha Bequer, press secretary for the Florida Division of Emergency. "This move is part of an effort to address logistical challenges the University Mall vaccination site has been experiencing the last few weeks." Bequer said details on the exact location are still being ironed out and said she will notify Patch once the information is finalized. A parking lot at Raymond James Stadium is currently being used as a coronavirus testing site available to residents without an appointment Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There's no word yet on whether the new vaccination site will be combined with the testing site or if the vaccination site will be set up in a different parking lot at the stadium. Bequer, however, assured seniors who already have appointments scheduled next week at the University Square Mall will have their appointments honored at the new location. "It's important to note, this relocation will not reduce COVID-19 testing services," she added. "The state is committed to providing accessible COVID-19 testing and will continue to operate a state-supported testing site in Hillsborough County." Taking pressure off the county's state-run vaccination site, Hillsborough County will have one of four federally supported vaccination sites in the state. The federal site, anticipated to open Wednesday, March 3, will be located at the closed Derby Lane greyhound racing track at 755 E. Waters Ave. in Sulphur Springs. The site will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., administering 2,000 vaccines a day. Additionally, the federal government plans to open two smaller mobile satellite sites in the county to provide 500 vaccinations a day in underserved areas. Bequer said the federal sites are being operated in by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, the Florida Department of Health, Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard. FEMA will use the same preregistration system the state-run sites use, myvaccine.fl.gov or 866-200-3896. In the meantime, Hillsborough County is continuing its own vaccination effort in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Department of Health. Dr. Doug Holt, director of the Department of Health-Hillsborough, said the county's Targeted Vaccine Area initiative has played a crucial role in vaccinating eligible seniors. One-day vaccination clinics are being set up in churches, senior living facilities and retirement communities around the county. The sites provide a list of eligible seniors who are contacted by the county to schedule an appointment. The sites also provide room for either a walk-up or drive-thru clinic and volunteers to help run the site. Between the state-run vaccination site and the TVAs, Holt said the county is vaccinating 15,000 to 18,000 people a week. To date, the county has set up 27 TVA sites in areas around the county with large senior populations. Additionally, the county just launched a mobile clinic to vaccinate home-bound residents. Tim Dudley, director of Emergency Management for Hillsborough County, said the mobile clinic is traveling to the homes of seniors who are bedridden, disabled, have social phobias or have no transportation to a vaccination site. The mobile unit, run by fire rescue paramedics and Hillsborough County Department of Health staff, is currently reaching at 24 residents a day. Eventually, Dudley said the county will expand the mobile program to about 60 seniors a day. The home-bound residents are selected through the Florida Emergency Management Division's Special Needs Registry and Hillsborough County Aging Services' client list. Seniors age 65 and up can register for the Special Needs Registry here. Other Vaccination Options While Hillsborough County currently does not have access to the number of vaccines being distributed by hospitals and private health care systems, additional vaccination efforts are underway through the following health care facilities: AdventHealthBayCareJames A. Haley Veterans' HospitalSuncoast Community HealthTampa GeneralUSF Health Some pharmacies located in Hillsborough County are also administering vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. To find participating locations and to make an appointment, visit: PublixWalmartWinn-DixieFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management to coordinate with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs to identify veterans of World War II and the Korean War who are unable to travel to receive a vaccine. For more information, click here. See related stories: Hillsborough Begins Effort To Vaccinate Home-Bound ResidentsState-Run Vaccination Site Opens At University Square MallHillsborough County To Take Coronavirus Vaccines To Those In Need