FEMA Funded COVID-19 Vaccination Satellite Sites Open In Charles Hadley Park, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade's two FEMA-funded, state-run satellite COVID-19 vaccination sites opened Thursday in two new locations.
The sites are at Charles Hadley Park, at 1350 NW 50th Street in Miami, and at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 Street in Cutler Bay.
At Hadley Park, people told CBS4 they were in and out in about two hours.
"I read about it in the news and drove an hour and a half to get here," said Jorge Sterling.
Sterling, who lives in North Palm Beach, said he wasn't able to get an appointment in his area.
While he's not over 60, he said he's obese and recently lost 40 pounds.
"I did have a letter from my doctor saying I'm obese which is true, unfortunately," he said.
Theresa Jones, 60, who met the age eligibility, said she, like so many in the Black community, was initially hesitant about getting vaccinated.
"A lot of people are skeptical about taking the shot because of history, but I put that aside," she said.
She added that she's getting vaccinated for her grandchildren who she'll finally get to see for the first time in a year.
"I'm very relieved, now I can go see my grandkids, they can come around me, everything like that," said Jones. "I advise anybody to get the shot, it's the best thing you can do."
While the lines at the Cutler Bay site seemed short Thursday morning, Mayor Tim Meerbott expects the site to be busy.
"They will do a minimum of 500 vaccines a day," he said. "So there is a potential we could vaccinate a large number of people."
The pop-up sites are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and no appointments are needed. They will be open through March 23rd.
Vaccinations are given to people 60 and older, K-12 teachers and school employees, firefighters and police officers 50 years and older, and people with medical conditions who bring a doctor's note or signed form from the Florida Department of Health.
A third FEMA-funded, state-run vaccination site is at Miami Dade College North Campus. No appointment is necessary and this site is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"Miami Dade College North, Hadley Park, and South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts will be administering the Pfizer from here on out," said vaccine testing sites spokesman Mike Jachles.
The FEMA-supported sites have exceeded the expectations.
"Everyone at the sites they are dedicated and committed to one thing, and that's delivering vaccines in a professional manner," Jachles said. "We saw almost 5,000 vaccines administered on Tuesday and almost 4,000 on Wednesday."
It should be noted, the two new sites will replace those in Miami Springs and in North Miami Beach which delivered their last vaccinations on Wednesday.