Philadelphia-Getting Vaccinated At The Center City Vaccination Center: What You Need To Know

Philadelphia PA

03 March, 2021

3:22 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Philadelphia : Sarah Reyes Board of Health, Department of Public Health, Office of the Mayor, Office of Emergency Management March 2, 2021 The City has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to open the Center City Vaccination Center, located at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC). The site has the capacity to vaccinate up to 6,000 Philadelphians per day and will prioritize eligible residents from phases 1a and 1b that have signed up on the Philadelphia COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form. There are no walk-up appointments at the Center City Vaccination Center. The Pfizer vaccine being used at the Center City Vaccination Center comes from a federal allotment, which allows the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to continue standing up vaccination sites in communities using the City's own allotment. The Center City Vaccination Center will operate seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., through April 30, 2021. How to register for a vaccine appointment Appointments for the Center City Vaccination Center are being set for Philadelphia County residents who have completed our COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form. The form is available in five languages: English Spanish French Chinese Vietnamese If residents do not have internet access, have issues filling out the online form, or need the form in an additional language, they should call 3-1-1. Residents will be contacted once they are eligible and a vaccine is available. There are no walk-up appointments at the Center City Vaccination Center. Individuals who show up without a scheduled appointment, and those with an appointment who are ineligible, will be turned away and directed to the COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form or 3-1-1. What to Bring An ID or piece of mail with a Philadelphia address is necessary to provide proof of identity and residency. What to Expect Before your appointment Individuals with vaccination appointments should plan to arrive on time. You may have to wait in line prior to entering the site to get your vaccine. Seating and wheelchairs are available on site to assist individuals who are unable to stand for extended periods of time. One caregiver or other support staff is allowed into the clinic with those who need them who are receiving the vaccine. You will move through several areas while answering important screening questions. Be prepared to move around the facility while you are traveling from registration, to vaccination, to observation. If you require mobility assistance, let any staff member in uniform know. One companion may accompany the person with the appointment. You'll be scheduled for your second dose, if your vaccine requires one, when you check-in. You'll be asked a few health screening questions to ensure it's safe for you to receive the vaccine, and then you'll get the vaccine. After your appointment After you've been vaccinated, you'll wait in an observation area for 15 minutes. Certain health conditions will require a 30-minute observation time. You will receive a CDC issued card, keep this card in a safe place. Take a picture of it on your phone and email it to yourself. You'll need to bring it to your second vaccine appointment, if you are required to receive a second dose. You will also receive an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued fact sheet with certain vaccine-specific EUA information for you to read. You may experience minor side effects after your vaccination. These side effects are signals that your immune system is working. Potential short-term side effects include: A sore arm General muscle aches Headache Fatigue Chills Fever Clinical staff will be a mix of federal partners, including uniformed military providers, and volunteers from the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps. U.S. Army North is serving as coordinating agency for the Department of Defense's COVID-19 response in support of FEMA. Translation and Interpretation Services If you or a member of your party needs language translation or interpretation services, see any staff member. A mix of on-site translators and mobile applications will be used to communicate with those who require interpretation of languages commonly spoken in Philadelphia. AFN Considerations There will be an assisted check-in area and process, as well as signage with directions for patients with access and functional needs. There will be on-site translation in American Sign Language (ASL) with additional language capability on-call as needed. Wheelchairs will be available. Video Remote Interpreting services will also be available on site. Getting to the Center City Vaccination Center The entrance to the Center City Vaccination Center is at the northeast corner of 12th and Arch Streets. Individuals with appointments should use 100 N. 12th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 as the GPS address. After being vaccinated, individuals will exit at the northwest corner of 11th and Arch Streets. There are many transportation options available to meet the needs of residents traveling to the Center City Vaccination Center. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is accessible using: SEPTA public transit and Customized Community Transportation (CCT) services Rideshare Taxi Personal vehicle Parking facilities are available to accommodate personal vehicles and loading zones have been created for drop-offs and pick-ups at the entrance and exit. SEPTA Public Transportation Options The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a block away from SEPTA's Jefferson Station which is serviced by eleven Regional Rail lines, the Market-Frankford line and bus routes: 17, 23, 33, 38, 44, 47, 47M, 48, 61, and 62. Individuals are highly encouraged to use public transit resources to get to and from their appointments at the Center City Vaccination Center. SEPTA continues to promote safe and healthy travel during the pandemic. Masks are required, and employee-ambassadors will reinforce this mandate and give out free masks as part of the Mask Force Philly program. More information on SEPTA service and COVID-19 can be found at septa.org/covid-19. This web-based map shows all transit routes to the PCC, and this static map shows frequent routes to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Seniors ride free on transit Did you know adults age 65 and older can ride free at all times on SEPTA buses, trackless trolleys, trolleys, Broad Street and Market Frankford lines, and Regional Rail? Learn more about what you need to ride free as a senior on SEPTA. Reduced transit fare for people with disabilities under age 65 Individuals under age 65 with a qualifying disability can ride at half-fare at all times on SEPTA buses, trackless trolleys, trolleys, Broad Street and Market Frankford lines, and Regional Rail. Registration information below. Eligibility criteria and application information can be found here. SEPTA CCT Connect Service SEPTA Customized Community Connect (CCT) is available to seniors and individuals with disabilities and/or access and functional needs that are registered with SEPTA CCT. Designated pick-up and drop-off areas ADA Pick-Up and Drop-Off A designated drop-off point with ADA accessibility is located on the south side of the 100-200 block of N. 12th Street, between Arch and Race Streets. A designated pick-up point with ADA accessibility will be located on the northeast corner of 1100 Arch Street, between 11th and 12th Streets. Taxi, Rideshare, and Privately Owned Vehicles Designated drop-off points for rideshare, taxi, and privately owned vehicles will be located on the northside of 100 N. 12th Street, between Arch and Race Streets. Designated pick-up points for rideshare, taxi, and privately owned vehicles will be located on the 0-100 block of N. 11th Street, between Market and Arch Streets. Parking Information The PCC website lists various parking options, and there are several parking apps that can help locate available parking resources. The following parking garages are offering discounted rates for 2-hour parking. Rates must be validated by showing the vaccination card given to individuals after receiving their vaccine. The Autopark at the Fashion District 45 N. 10th Street, Philadelphia PA 19107 $5 for 2-hour parking Parkway Broad and Race Garage 150 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 $10 for 2-hour parking Parkway 12th & Filbert Garage 1201 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 $10 for 2-hour parking Additionally, from Wednesday, March 3 to Thursday, April 1, the Philadelphia Parking Authority will provide complimentary parking between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. at its three SEPTA regional rail lots referenced below. Fern Rock Rail Station Lot – 10th & Nedro Streets Fox Chase Rail Station Lot – 500 Rhawn Street Torresdale Rail Station Lot – 4900 Grant Avenue Items NOT allowed inside Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: Aerosols Ammunition Animals other than service/guide animals Bags exceeding size restriction 18"x13"x7" Bicycles Balloons Coolers Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems Explosives Firearms Knives Laser pointers Packages Supports for signs and placards Toy guns Weapons of any kind Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards Residents can sign up to receive notifications about potential impacts to or changes at the Center City Vaccination Center—including transit and weather incidents. Sign up to receive these updates via free Ready Philadelphia text alert by texting COVIDPHL to 888-777. Fill out the COVID-19 Vaccination Interest Form Learn more about Philadelphia's vaccine distribution network This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author's own.