“There was no one waiting in line without being vaccinated,” said Dr. Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon in Philadelphia who ran the event at the Liacouras Center on the Temple University campus from noon Friday to noon Saturday.
Stanford said more than 3,000 vaccines had been given by Saturday morning and was pleased with the way things had turned out “for the most part”.
“We can change a lot of things to improve them next time,” Stanford said.
Vaxathon vaccinates more than 200 people an hour at the busiest, according to Standford.
“The hard part is when we started that there were 1,000 people in line. It looked like there were 1,000 people in line all day, no matter how fast we moved,” Stanford said.
Stanford focuses on vaccinating the black community, which highlights that it accounts for more than half of COVID-19 deaths.
“It doesn’t mean they’re not scared or scared. It doesn’t mean they forgot about the atrocities of drugs, but they are focused on the here and now. Here and now is the one of two African Americans knows someone who died or was very ill coronavirus. That’s hope, “Stanford said.
Clinic officials were surprised that the long lines remained late into the night. On Saturday at 4 in the morning, the line stretched on 15th Street.
“I really thought that in the late hours maybe 1 in the morning, at least 4 in the morning, that people won’t be out here, but they were, so we had to deal with those cold temperatures and how to keep them warm.” , Stanford said.
Some people in line said they waited more than nine hours to get the shot, but are willing to wait.
“When people are dedicated and determined, they will get this shot, then we will conquer COVID,” said Mindy Washington of Germantown.
Philadelphia Eagles staff and mascot Swoop caught hundreds waiting in line early Saturday with Dunkin ‘coffee and hot chocolate.
Stanford said the Black Doctors Consortium COVID-19 brought those waiting in the arena, separated and socially distanced. They had a separate space for seniors.
“Just being able to work with the Liacouras Center and be allowed to really use all the space that’s here, which helped, even this morning is better than yesterday,” Stanford said.
The group administered the Moderna vaccine on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments were required, but the event was not just for everyone.
To be eligible, people must be in phases 1A and 1B and reside in certain postcodes.
Phase 1B includes those over the age of 75, along with people with medical conditions, first responders, as well as those working in childcare, food services, public transport, retail and the manufacturing industry.
Stanford said he brought a sleeping bag with her. She said she was present for the entire 24-hour operation and witnessed the seemingly endless line.
“It tells me that people want to live. They see this as a life-saving potential, but also that it gives them the means to live back. That’s why so many people are here,” Stanford said.
Zip codes that were prioritized at the 24-hour clinic included: 19104, 19119, 19121, 19123, 19124, 19126, 19131, 19132, 19138, 19139, 19140, 19141, 19142, 19143, 19144, 19145, 19146, 19150 , 19151 and 19153.
The zip codes were approved by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, according to the consortium.
The zip codes listed are areas of the city with the highest number of infections and deaths, but the lowest vaccination rates, officials said.
The consortium also said that teachers living in the most affected postal codes were eligible for vaccination at the 24-hour event.
Craig Mortimore of West Philadelphia was first in line.
“It’s about life. It will improve the quality of my life,” Mortimore said.
He arrived at the stairs of the Liacouras Center on Friday at 4:45 in the morning. With health problems and no other access to an appointment with the vaccine, this was the best option for him.
After receiving the shot, he could only describe the feeling as “Relief!”
Those who received the vaccine will have to return for a second shot at a future event.
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