New mass immunization clinics open in Philadelphia, Delaware County



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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – A total of 16,000 people will be vaccinated this weekend at two new mass clinics in Philadelphia and Delaware County.

One is a new FEMA site at the Esperanza Community Center in Hunting Park, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.

Patients like Samuel Barios say they are relieved to have a clinic in their neighborhood.

“Lack of transportation for people, it is difficult for them to get to remote places, they don’t have a car,” he said.

The site will shoot around 2,000 people a day in an area with one of the lowest vaccination rates.

Authorities say only about 16% of the city’s Hispanic population has been vaccinated.

“It’s great for the neighborhood, yes,” Barios said.

In Marple Township, lines of cars wrapped around Delaware County Community College. A new clinic hopes to vaccinate 12,000 people this weekend with Johnson & Johnson.

“I was going to take whatever I could get. I’ve been trying to get it for a while now,” said Derrick Edwards.

The site is by appointment only and for the first weekend, open only to those of phases 1a and 1b.

The county says that as more vaccines become available, people are getting more flexibility with appointments.

“People can go online and choose which site and which vaccine they would like to receive. If they want more certainty in their schedule, they can register at one of our permanent sites or register here. for a while. and can come here on weekends, ”said Howard Lazarus, Delaware County executive director.

The county hopes to vaccinate 140,000 people before the summer.

“I have a lot of extenuating circumstances so I wanted to get rid of it to protect myself and my family,” said Crystal White of Onley.

She says she is getting the vaccine in the hopes that life will return to normal soon.

“I have high hopes,” she added.

Currently, about a third of Philadelphians have been vaccinated.

The city is moving to Phase 1C on Monday, which means even more people will be eligible for their shots.

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