Smooth Sailing Friday Miami Dade College North Campus Vaccination Site
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The process of getting a vaccine at Miami-Dade College's North Campus seemed to move more smoothly on Friday morning.
"Two hours, I timed it. From the time I got in line to the shot in the arm," said Leslie Chin, a 51-year-old mom who said she tried getting her shot at the site multiple times this week but was deterred by the large crowds. "I was surprised to be able to drive right through the gate and into the lot because I've only seen the outside of the campus this week."
The easier process at the FEMA-funded, state-run site followed a staff crackdown on the rules earlier this week. On Tuesday, word got out that staff at the site were unofficially ignoring state guidelines on who can get the vaccine.
"The message gets out and people think 'ok, I know somebody that did this or got this', so then we have 100, or 200, or 500 people show up and simply that's not the case here," said Mike Jachles, a spokesperson for the site, on Wednesday. "Moving forward, at the Miami-Dade North College and other FEMA-supported sites, we are adhering to the governor's executive order."
Chin said the process of getting her vaccine on Friday morning was like clockwork. "It was so well-organized. I was texting my friends that it was so quick," she said.
"I feel like a burden has been lifted off of me," said Synthia McBride.
She and her husband, Tyrone, made the drive to Miami-Dade from Vero Beach after having trouble securing a vaccine appointment at home.
"I tried my best to go everywhere I could and it was full up there," McBride said.
Along with the FEMA funded site at Miami-Dade College North, two new smaller federally funded, state-run sites opened Thursday morning:
- Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Drive, Miami Springs, FL 33166
- Allen Park Community Center at 1770 Northeast 162 Street, North Miami Beach, FL 33162
The pop-up sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 17 and replace the ones in Florida City and Sweetwater. No appointment is necessary, but vaccines are only for eligible people.
Medical teams at the smaller sites will be able to vaccinate about 500 people a day. The site in Miami Springs offers the Pfizer vaccine and the sites in North Miami Beach and at MDC offer the Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines as they're available.
Currently, vaccines are available for people 65 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 a signed form from the Florida Department of Health.
The three federally funded sites in Miami-Dade will accept either a doctor's note or the DOH form. A hard copy is best, but an electronic copy will also be accepted.
The site on Miami-Dade College's North Campus is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Starting March 15, people 60 to 64 can also start getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida.
"Go down to 60 on Monday. We get to 55 relatively soon. And then if the supply gates really open, we could be at a position sometime in April where it would just be available. People can get it. So that's exciting," said Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday.