The County of San Diego takes the lead to get more primary care health workers vaccinated by partnering with regional partners UC San Diego Health, the Padres and the City of San Diego to open the district’s first COVID-19 Vaccination Super Station.
Up to 5,000 health workers per day to be quickly and safely vaccinated at the drive-up site. Health professionals must make an appointment online and prove that they are a health worker. Chairman Nathan Fletcher struck a deal with partners to participate in County’s supersized POD pilot.
This new County-run “POD” (point of dispensing) program is a way to quickly and safely vaccinate the 500,000 health workers in our area who qualify for Phase 1A Tier categories on the priority list of the County. state of California. The province had previously established four small pods in the region that delivered hundreds of vaccines every day to health workers who will continue to work, but the Vaccination Super Station will make it possible to administer up to 5,000 doses of vaccines per day to health professionals.
Nathan Fletcher, Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, has spoken about forming a partnership with UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent and UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Kholsa. This partnership will contribute to faster regional distribution of vaccines.
“The Vaccination Super Station enhances our ability as a County to deliver the vaccine to health professionals, ”said Chairman Fletcher. “The opening of this super-sized vaccination site will be an important milestone in COVID’s recovery in the state of California when it opens Monday. With UC San Diego Health backing this new regional partnership, we will get vaccines into the arms of health professionals much faster. We appreciate them; de Padres and Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego, for helping us make this happen. “
From Monday 11 January 2021, the Vaccination Super Station will be available to health professionals seven days a week from 7am to 7pm (see list of eligible persons). Vaccines are only administered to health professionals who have an appointment online at www.VaccinationSuperStationSD.com. The counties Vaccination Super Station will be located on the Padres-controlled Tailgate Lot, a sprawling space located on Imperial Avenue near Petco Park. Health workers must be able to prove that they are a health worker on arrival. Health workers can stay in their vehicle to get the vaccine and will stay on site for 15 minutes to be checked, once released they can drive away.
“To end this pandemic, every available tool must be used, from masking to testing and vaccinations,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “The extensive effort to vaccinate more people faster will require the close collaboration of multiple partners – UC San Diego Health, the County, the Padres and others. The unique combination of leadership, resources, expertise and logistics of this partnership will deliver optimal public health outcomes to the benefit of everyone in San Diego County. “
“The rapid build and staffing of a large COVID-19 vaccine center in Petco Park is a massive undertaking and it would not be possible without our partners in the County and the Padres,” said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. “We are extremely proud of San Diego for coming together during this crisis, leveraging the innovation and collaboration that our region is known to support the health and safety of the entire community.”
Chairman Fletcher says the County hopes to eventually replicate the supersized vaccination “POD” model in San Diego County. No timetable has been set, but the chairman says that if the model proves to be effective; and more doses of the vaccine become available and individuals designated for Level 2 and Level 3 are eligible, with the Vaccination Super Station model will be vital to distribute the vaccine to more people in a fast, safe environment.
The City of San Diego joined Air Traffic Control and Security for the San Diego Police Department.
“Petco Park is more than a baseball field, and we are honored to help the San Diego community by providing the district with the space and operational support it needs for their critical COVID-19 vaccination efforts,” said Erik Greupner, President of Padres Business Operations. “Through the work of the County and our partners at UC San Diego Health, the important step of vaccinating San Diegans will move us forward and save lives.”
The County of San Diego administered its first COVID-19 vaccines on December 16, 2020.
Quick tips for health professionals booking an appointment at the Vaccine Super Station
- Health professionals are encouraged to contact their health care providers first to request the vaccine, but if none is available they should make an appointment for the County’s COVID-19 Vaccine Super Station
- Appointments are required and must be made at www.VaccinationSuperStationSD.com
- Do not make an appointment if you have COVID-19 or are ill. Follow the CDC guidelines for those situations
- Medical professionals administering the vaccine will wear personal protective equipment.
- Wear a mask
- Acceptable means of evidence to be presented at the district’s Vaccine Super Station
- Employee ID badge with photo or other documents, including a professional license and photo ID, signed letter from their employer on facility stationery and photo ID; or a payment slip or timesheet from their employer in healthcare or home support services with photo ID