First-come, first-served vaccines, available to Duval County seniors next week

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Beginning Monday, residents of Duval County 65 and older can get COVID-19 vaccines at two senior centers in Jacksonville, not by appointment, but based on their month of birth.

Vaccines will still be given by appointment at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, but the demand for appointments is greater than the supply – which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

In response, while the city is converting seniors in Mandarin and on the west side of COVID-19 test sites to places to receive vaccines, the city will offer vaccinations based on the eligible recipient’s birthday – no appointment necessary.

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All patients must provide photo ID showing their date of birth and Duval County residence. First responders and health workers must also bring a work badge. Although vaccinations are given on a first-come, first-served basis, eligible residents are only allowed to visit a vaccination site on the weekday associated with their month of birth based on the following schedule:

• Monday – January and February
• Tuesday – March and April
• Wednesday – May and June
• Thursday – July and August
• Friday – September and October
• Saturday – November and December

These two vaccination sites are open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm:

• Mandarin Senior Center, 3848 Hartley Road
• Lane Wiley Senior Center, 6710 Wiley Road

Between the two locations, the city hopes to vaccinate just under 1,000 people with the Pfizer vaccine every day.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, the city has been committed to providing the information, support and access to resources that citizens need to manage their health, while medical experts work to understand and eliminate COVID-19,” said Mayor Lenny Curry in a statement. “With the creation of two additional vaccination sites, we take a promising step toward eradicating this virus and continuing our commitment to the Jacksonville community.”

The two centers stopped providing COVID-19 tests on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. to begin the transition to vaccination sites.

To assist in a safe and organized vaccination process, patients should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Masks should always be worn
• Physical distance requirements must be adhered to at all times
• People who feel sick should not go to a vaccination site
• Patients must queue no later than 6:00 pm
• Only carers are allowed to accompany patients in need of assistance to a vaccination site
• Patients must park in the designated parking areas; patients cannot be deposited
• Parking and waiting in line at night is not permitted
• Patients should follow traffic patterns and directions from traffic monitors (a map is available at JaxReady.com/Virus?)

Patients should print a completed DOH vaccine screening and consent form and bring it to the vaccination site. The form is available at COJ.net/CovidVaccineForm.

The Florida Department of Health in Duval County on Monday began giving Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 65 and older and to health professionals who could get an appointment.

New appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine will be added through the online system every Thursday at 5:00 PM, the health department said. On Thursday, more than 400,000 people tried to get online to book the new series of appointments, causing the website to temporarily crash. All appointments were booked within an hour.

The health department said the link will change every week and be posted on the warning page on the department’s website: duval.floridahealth.gov.

“I will remind people that we still have limited availability of this vaccine, and Government DeSantis has prioritized distributing it to those most at risk. Therefore, personal responsibility remains our most important tool to fight this virus, ”said Curry.

Curry acknowledged that coronavirus cases in the city are ‘rising’ and again pointed to wearing masks indoors, distancing themselves socially, avoiding crowds, and washing hands regularly as ways Jacksonville residents can do their part to help themselves, their lives. families and their neighbors.

Duval County reported 6,323 new cases in the past week.

Curry said he is grateful to the scientists, doctors and medical professionals who have worked so hard to make a vaccine available to the public so quickly.

“I am grateful to my team, community leaders and officials for making plans to get this needed vaccine to our first responders, medical workers and vulnerable populations,” Curry said.

For inquiries, citizens should visit JaxReady.com/Virus or call 630-CITY (2489) to be connected to a customer service representative.