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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting Monday, Duval County residents age 65 and older can receive COVID-19 vaccines at two Jacksonville seniors centers, not by appointment, but based on their month of birth.

Vaccines will continue to be administered by appointment at the Prime Osborn convention center, but the demand for appointments has exceeded supply – which is likely to continue in the near future.

In response, as the city converts seniors into mandarin and Westside from COVID-19 test sites to vaccine locations, the city will offer vaccinations based on the qualified recipient’s birthday – no scheduling is required.

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All patients must provide a photo ID showing the date of birth and proving the residence of Duval County. First responders and health workers should also bring a work badge. While vaccinations will receive first come, first served, eligible residents should visit a vaccination site only on the day of the week associated with their month of birth, according to 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 will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday:

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

Between the two sites, the city hopes to vaccinate just under 1,000 people with the Pfizer vaccine daily.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has been committed to providing information, support and access to the resources 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 establishment of two additional vaccination sites, we are taking a promising step toward eradicating this virus and continuing our commitment to the Jacksonville community.”

The two centers did not provide COVID-19 tests on Thursday, at 17:00, to begin the transition to vaccination sites.

To help ensure a safe and organized vaccination process, patients should follow these guidelines:

• Masks must be worn at all times
• Physical distance requirements must be met at all times
• People who feel bad should not go to a vaccination site
• Patients must be in line no later than 18:00
• Only caregivers can accompany patients who need assistance at the vaccination site
• Patients must park in designated parking areas; patients cannot be lowered
• Parking and waiting in line overnight will not be allowed
• Patients should follow traffic patterns and instructions from traffic monitors (is a map available at JaxReady.com/Virus?)

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

The Florida Department of Health in Duval County has started administering the Moderna COVID-19 months vaccine to anyone over the age of 65 and health care workers who have managed to make an appointment.

New meetings for the COVID-19 vaccine will be added through the online system every Thursday at 5 p.m., the health department said. On Thursday, more than 400,000 people tried to log in online to book the new set of appointments, temporarily blocking the website. All appointments were booked within one hour.

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

“I will remind people that we still have limited availability of this vaccine, and Governor DeSantis has given priority to its distribution to those most at risk. That’s why personal responsibility remains our greatest tool in fighting this virus, “Curry said.

Curry acknowledged that the number of coronavirus cases in the city is “upward” and again pointed to wearing masks indoors, social distancing, avoiding large crowds and frequent hand washing as ways in which Jacksonville residents can do their part to they protect themselves, their families and their neighbors.

Duval County reported 6,323 new cases in the last 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 government officials for developing plans to get this vaccine needed by first responders, health care workers and vulnerable populations,” Curry said.

For questions, citizens can visit JaxReady.com/Virus or call 630-CITY (2489) to connect to a customer support representative.