The site is expected to open on March 3, FEMA announced on Friday.
FEMA, CDC, HHS, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the City of Philadelphia have teamed up to open the vaccination site.
“Much has not been resolved yet,” Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said at a news conference.
FEMA and federal partners intend to support the site through personnel, operations, logistics and vaccine allocations.
“The Philadelphia site, like other federally supported sites across the country, was selected based on data analysis, including the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index and other census data, as well as information from our state and local partners, ”FEMA said in a statement.
According to FEMA, the Philadelphia site could have a vaccination rate of several thousand doses per day at full capacity and would come with its own vaccination allocation, in addition to what the city of Philadelphia already receives.
Farley repeated the allocation information during his session.
“The federal government has various sites that it designates as type 1 and type 2. This is a type 1 site. Vaccines will come with federal support, so they are not removed from our local allocation,” Farley said.
FEMA said ensuring access to vaccines for vulnerable and under-served populations was a priority in the site selection process.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center’s central location, accessibility to public transportation, logistical capacity, large size and existing city contracts in support of vaccination operations have made it a logical choice for Pennsylvania’s first federally operated site.” said FEMA.
FEMA and federal partner agencies said they will provide clinical and site support staff, releasing the city of Philadelphia to focus staff and resources on vaccination efforts in neighborhoods across the city.
“We believe that the Convention Center can cope with the large volume we are talking about. A type 1 site should be 6,000 people a day, which is quite a few people, but it is a very large convention center and has excellent transportation access, “Farley said.
Specific details on an opening date and registration process are to come, FEMA said.
“Every city in the country, including Philadelphia, is currently struggling with not having enough COVID vaccine to meet the demand of their residents, so this center will make a big difference,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing this COVID-19 vaccination center join our system of vaccine distribution channels, which includes community clinics, hospitals, neighborhood health centers, pharmacies, mobile sites and more.”
FEMA is working with Pennsylvania officials to evaluate other potential federally supported vaccination sites across the country.
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