Disneyland has remained closed since the coronavirus pandemic hit the US in March, and the company has illuminated tens of thousands of employees. Now the theme park will be the first mass vaccination site in Orange County, California, as the state sees it record COVID-19 deaths.
Government officials announced late Monday that Disneyland will be the first “Super Point-of-Dispensing” (POD) site in the county when it goes live later this week.
“The Disneyland Resort, the largest employer in the heart of Orange County, has risen to host the county’s first Super POD site – and has taken on a monumental role in our vaccination distribution process,” said Acting Chairman Andrew Do , Orange County Supervisor, representing the First. District, said in a statement.
The province plans to open more Super POD sites soon, with five regional sites having the capacity to vaccinate thousands of people daily, making the vaccination process much more efficient.
“Coronavirus has brought both a public health crisis and economic devastation,” said Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu. “With this super location, we will overcome both. Any vaccination done in Anaheim will help save lives and accelerate the reopening and recovery of our city.”
Following the process in much of the US, vaccines are distributed in Orange County through a tiered, tiered approach, with law enforcement and first responders vaccinated first. Now residents over 75 years of age are also eligible for the vaccine.
Those who meet the criteria must schedule an appointment at a Super POD site to be vaccinated, officials said.
Orange County has a population of approximately 3.1 million. According to county data, more than 190,000 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
“Disneyland Resort is proud to help support Orange County and the City of Anaheim in the use of our property, and we are grateful for all their efforts to combat COVID-19,” said Dr. Pamela Hymel, Chief Medical Officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, told CBS News. “After a year in which so many in our community have faced unprecedented hardship and uncertainty, there is now cause for optimism in the administration of a vaccine.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday the state would step up its coronavirus vaccination this week, too massive vaccination sites at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Petco Park in San Diego and Cal Expo in Sacramento. The state reported a record number of deaths from COVID-19 this weekend.
Newsom said the state’s goal was to vaccinate 1 million more people by the weekend.