Final preparations are being made at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) walk-up COVID-19 vaccination site set to open 9 a.m. Thursday, February 25.
The walk-up vaccination site will occupy the main level of the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center Teaching Gymnasium, 1800 Wahnish Way. It will serve health care workers with direct patient contact and residents 65 and over.
“This vaccination site is central to our efforts to reach underserved communities at this crucial time,” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., who received his second vaccine last week. “We are urging those who are eligible to take advantage of this invaluable service. This is an opportunity for our community. This is an opportunity to help save the lives of those we love.”
Run and staffed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health-Leon County, the site will operate from 9 a.m. to noon, seven days a week and distribute up to 200 vaccine doses daily for the first four weeks. Later, the site is expected to expand to 400 doses per day.
Those visiting the free vaccination site are asked to bring an ID to verify their birthday. The site is being opened as the state seeks to ramp up vaccine operations and combat growing vaccine hesitancy and skepticism among African Americans and other communities of color. Those seeking to be vaccinated can register online at https://commvax.patientportalfl.com. However, most of those served are expected to visit the site without pre-registration.
“The site is a walk-up site, so the registration will speed things up for someone coming to get the vaccine, but it does not guarantee them the vaccine or give them an appointment to be vaccinated,” said Tanya Tatum, director of FAMU Student Health Services. “The state anticipates that most individuals will be registered by staff once they get to the site. We are limited to 200 persons a day to start.”
