With a change in the vaccination rollout course on the way, we should soon see more people eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and more doses available with which to vaccinate them. That’s all great news for a number of reasons, but it’ll also mean that logistics will have to be ramped up to actually get needles into arms.
To that end, you might need huge facilities with ample parking and physical space to safely administer vaccines to a wider chunk of the population. What’s a great spot for that? Ballparks, apparently:
New Yorkers are AMAZIN’ and we’re proud to help keep them safe. As of January 25, #CitiField will become one of the largest #COVID19 vaccine sites in the city, working 24/7 to serve as many as 7K New Yorkers a week. #NYCVaccineForAll https://t.co/HCvN1zY2e2 pic.twitter.com/3lSIoXB4e7
— Citi Field (@CitiField) January 12, 2021
NEW: CA will be opening mass vaccination sites this week including Dodgers Stadium, Padres Stadium, and CalExpo.
Our goal continues to be fast, equitable, and safe vaccinations statewide.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 11, 2021
When the pandemic was just beginning to flare up, we saw unused baseball stadiums deployed in a number of helpful ways, including as a logistics and transportation kind of depot at Wrigley Field. Later, it was used as a food collection and distribution center, too. I’m not so sure it’d be an ideal location for vaccine deployment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs continue to deploy it in ways that help.
Elsewhere, I expect as other states reconfigure their vaccination efforts to align with the updated national plan (i.e., making more doses available, vaccinating anyone over 65 or with a comorbidity) we could see more large sports facilities made available in this way.
GOOD! Making the vaccinations as easily accessible to folks who are able to receive one and want to participate in stamping out the pandemic.