Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
More pop-up vaccination sites are opening in Broward County.
More of Broward’s cities are getting access to COVID19 vaccines so residents can get their shots closer to home.
Tamarac and Sunrise each expect to open vaccine sites exclusively for its residents, starting Monday. Hollywood’s site will open March 29. And Lighthouse Point gets vaccines on April 5.
The cities’ vaccine supply comes from the state health department in Broward County. The cities handle patients, the venue and staffing, said Nina Levine, Department of Health spokeswoman.
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said the details are still being finalized but he expects it to be at multiple locations, and it will be for any Florida resident.
“For everyone in southeast Broward, we haven’t had a permanent site,” he said. “It will make accessibility much better. They have been waiting for a closer-to-home site, they have been apprehensive about traveling.”
Tamarac’s site is a closed point of distribution for 600 seniors, providing Pfizer vaccines over 10 days.
Tamarac Fire Chief Percy Sayles said late Wednesday that the residents have already been identified — many of those getting the vaccines are shut-ins and known to the city — and the city has a backup list if people cancel their appointments. “Then we’ll go grab someone else,” Sayles said.
In Lighthouse Point, residents can ask for an appointment. Anyone age 60 or older, or teachers, firefighters and police age 50 or older can call 954-732-9335 on March 22 for appointments between April 5 and April 16. It will be a drive-thru site at Dixon Ahl Hall, 2220 NE 38 St., and for now, the plan is to offer Pfizer.
Lighthouse Point Mayor Glenn Troast has been asking state officials for the site since December. “We were very happy to take what we could get,” he said.
The idea is to help seniors who have been trouble getting an online reservation, he said. Only if there are extra spots will any of the 500 spaces be opened to non-Lighthouse Point residents. But one spot is already reserved for a 96-year-old resident with no computer who hasn’t been able to get an appointment, he said.
A pop-up site for senior communities begins next week in Sunrise.
Firefighters will be on site at Water Bridge, starting Monday; Aragon, on Tuesday; and Quail Run, on Wednesday, to sign up seniors for the vaccine. While there are new pop-up vaccine sites, other cities already have had sites open earlier this year.
Other cities that have already had vaccination sites for seniors include Plantation, which gave out 500 vaccines for seniors age 65 and older in February. “We’re trying to get more,” said Councilman Nick Sortal. “It’s all about supply.”
Other locations are more permanent.
In Lauderhill, residents can get vaccinated at John E. Mullin Park. To schedule an appointment, call 954-730-3008 or go online at lauderhill-fl.gov/covid-19. In Miramar, seniors can sign up at miramarfl.gov/vaccine.
Oakland Park created the model for a city sites for vaccines, Levine said. It’s geared toward seniors who are deemed vulnerable to the virus. Those who are age-eligible may call 954-630-4335. Transportation to the vaccination site, at the Collins Community Center, is available for those who need it.
Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin said it was “all hands on deck” with volunteers and firefighters doing the vaccinations, and city librarians answering the phones to set up appointments.
It’s coming to an end though. The city is no longer making new appointments for first doses, and second dose appointments will be completed in early April.