Jacksonville to open 2-day vaccination site at Northside senior center

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – Jacksonville will open another COVID-19 vaccination site in a senior center – this time in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Mayor Lenny Curry said on Thursday that he heard calls from City Council members to get COVID-19 vaccines in underprivileged communities in Jacksonville and was ready to respond when the city learned a few days ago that it would receive another dose of the Pfizer vaccine. .

“When we receive the resources and the opportunity, the city of Jacksonville is able to operate quickly and efficiently to safely bring this life-saving vaccine to the public,” said Curry. “If and when more vaccines are available, we will be ready to open additional sites in other areas of the community.”

He said the last batch is enough to give 975 patients the first and second doses of the vaccine.

The doses will be distributed Friday and Saturday this week – from 9 am to 5 pm on both days – at Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center at 4575 Moncrief Road in Northside.

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“By locating a location here in Northwest Jacksonville, we are taking advantage of the limited quota we have in a way that has the greatest impact,” said Curry.

Vaccines are still limited to people aged 65 and over, frontline health professionals and first responders.

While Curry does not limit new vaccination sites to people living in a particular neighborhood, he hopes that people will respect the urgent need of that community.

The city will administer 500 doses on Friday and 475 doses on Saturday.

“While we are happy to have received this award, we need more to really mitigate the risks and protect the health and safety of our community,” said Curry, adding that he will continue to work with state and federal officials to try to secure more vaccine for the city. . “As I said before, we do not control the supply chain, but we make it clear to those who do that we are ready to take action when supplies are available, just as we are doing today.”

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Councilman Reggie Gaffney said he appreciated the mayor and Charles Moreland, director of community and international affairs for the city, after a group of council members approached them about finding an opportunity to inject COVID-19 vaccines into the needy Northside area.

“I want to thank you both for listening to our screams. That’s why we are here today, ”said Gaffney. “This is just the beginning.”

Curry also thanked the board members who spoke on behalf of their underserved communities for “always ensuring that the voices of their constituents are heard”.

“People need to know that you are taking care of them and you are always defending them,” said Curry.

During the announcement, the mayor and councilors were asked about the skepticism of some in relation to vaccination. Councilman Sam Newby spoke up and urged all those who could be vaccinated. He was one of the first prominent people in Jacksonville to contract COVID-19 and said he almost died

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“You don’t want to be in the situation I was in (where) I’m telling my wife that I’m not going to survive, (to) get the insurance policy because this is a deadly, deadly disease,” Newby said.

Newby said the vaccines the city is offering in downtown Northside are not enough on their own, but they are a good start.

Watch the full announcement of the press conference below:

No vaccination appointments are required at the Brown Senior Center, but to avoid large crowds and promote social distance, eligible patients should only visit the vaccination site on the day associated with the month of birth:

Friday: birthdays from January to June
Saturday: July to December birthday

All patients must provide photo identification showing their date of birth, while first responders and healthcare professionals must also bring an employee badge.

For added convenience, patients will receive a voucher that allows them to return to the location on the same day to receive the vaccine.

While the Department of Health Vaccine Screening and Consent Form will be in place, patients are encouraged to print and bring a completed form to reduce waiting times. The form is available at COJ.net/CovidVaccineForm.

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To facilitate a safe and organized vaccination process, patients must comply with the following rules:

A mask must be worn at all times.
The physical distance requirements must be followed at all times.
People who are feeling ill should not go to the vaccination site.
Patients must be in line before 8 am and not after 4 pm.
Only caregivers can accompany patients who need assistance to the vaccination site.
Patients must park in designated parking areas; patients cannot be left on the line.
You will not be allowed to park and wait in line at night.

After receiving the vaccine, patients must remain in place for at least 15 minutes to be monitored by health and emergency professionals for possible reactions. Based on medical history, some individuals may have to wait 30 minutes. Although allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are rare, this safety measure was adopted as a precaution.

Patients must return to the Clanzel T. Brown Senior Center 21 days after the first injection to receive the second dose. Reminders about the follow-up appointment will be provided by phone and text message.

JTA said it has direct service to the Clanzel Brown Community Center via Route 3 – Moncrief.

It also provides direct service through its North side ReadiRide zone and a new Northwest Core ReadiRide Zone established to serve the area.

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JTA offers FREE rides for those who are going to get the vaccine (seniors over 65).

For ReadiRide reservations:

– Customers must book a trip at least 24 hours in advance, calling (904) 679-4555.

– The elderly only need to show their identity to the driver to travel for FREE (available for buses and ReadiRide).

More information about all of JTA’s vaccination efforts can be found at health.jtafla.com.

The AME Alliance of Ministers is also offering free transportation on Fridays and Saturdays for those who need to go to the center to get a vaccine.

Those who need a ride can call 904-739-7500.

Because of the vaccination operation, Agape Health, a city-hired COVID-19 test provider who normally operates outside the senior center, will temporarily move the tests to the following locations:

AGAPE Dunn – 1680 Dunn Ave. – 32218
AGAPE Blanding – 5460 Blanding Blvd. – 32244

These test sites will be open from 11 am to 6 pm on Thursday, February 4, and on Friday, February 5.

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For assistance, citizens can call 630-CITY (2489) to be connected to a customer service representative.

“An important reminder that testing is still a critical tool that we have to fight this virus while it is with us,” said Curry. “The test is available. If you need a test, do a test. “

The city’s new senior center vaccination site opens when a group of local church and community leaders announce their own plan to do the same. Church leaders in Florida are pushing for more than 80 churches in underserved areas to become vaccination clinics – with nine in northeastern Florida.

“We are alarmed by the low number of minorities who have received vaccines so far,” said Pastor RL Gundy. “This movement aims to save lives and deal with health disparities”.

But it is not clear where the vaccines will come from and when they will arrive. Local leaders hope to obtain it directly from the federal government.

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“In our task force, we have Congressman Al Lawson, Congressman Val Demmings. So we are working with Congressional delegations 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 is more reactionary than properly planned,” said Gundy.

Governor Ron DeSantis is also expanding the number of vaccines for supermarket giant Publix.

President Joe Biden’s administration earlier this week announced that 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.

“Not only do supermarkets not enter needy areas, nor do pharmacies. Think of it as if you have a food dessert, you usually have a pharmacy dessert, ”said Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation.

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Joshi said it is still not enough.

“Just as 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 box pharmacies,” said Joshi.

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