While California continues to struggle with rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, state officials are working to turn sports and entertainment stadiums into vaccination centers.
The Associated Press reports Tuesday that popular public places in the Golden State, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium and the Disneyland Resort parking lot, will be converted into large-scale vaccination sites as the state struggles to contain the pandemic. Petco Park in San Diego and CalExpo Fairgrounds in Sacramento will also be converted.
Speaking to reporters, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said it would be an “all-hands-on-deck” approach. The state’s goal is to mitigate outbreaks of new cases through widespread vaccinations.
This strategy will require a faster distribution of available vaccines, something Newsom acknowledged needs to be addressed. The state’s goal will be to administer 1 million kicks over the next week.
Vaccines will also be available from other sources. Pharmacies, dentists, paramedics and other medical professionals, along with the California National Guard, will help dispense doses of the vaccine.
The first rounds of vaccination in the localities started on Monday.
“It’s like a trip to Disneyland,” said Heather Buschman, a spokeswoman for UC San Diego Health, of the cars that receive vaccines. Buschman is working with the medical team to help inoculate passengers in their cars.
Accelerating vaccinations across the state comes at a crucial time for California. On January 10, the state registered 39,839 new cases in a single day, an increase of 1.5% over the previous day, according to data from the state health department.