PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — FEMA is planning to open a mass vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center as soon as March 3.
Health officials anticipate immunizing 6,000 people a day at the site.
FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will support the site’s operations and vaccines, meaning this site will not use Philadelphia’s own allocation of vaccines. Philadelphia receives its vaccines from the federal government, which is separate from the rest of the state’s allocation.
“I am excited to see the federal government continue to step up to the plate and support us to help protect every Philadelphian,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “Every city in the country, including Philadelphia, is currently struggling with not having enough COVID vaccine to meet the demand of their residents, so this center will make a huge difference.”
The Convention Center has the ability to distribute a lot of vaccines at once, which has already been demonstrated in previous clinics the city has run, though this one will be a mass clinic.
FEMA said ensuring vulnerable and underserved populations have access to the vaccine was a priority in selecting Philadelphia for the state’s first mass vaccine clinic. City Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley said that’s one reason the Convention Center is an ideal location.
“It’s got great transportation access to both people driving as well as people taking public transit,” he said.
Farley said some logistics still need to be worked out, but Philadelphians can register on the city’s website or by calling 311. The city will schedule appointments for everyone on the registration list in order of priority. Currently, the city is vaccinating people in Phase 1b, which includes people over the age of 75 or people with underlying health conditions. Health care workers in Phase 1a who have not yet been vaccinated can also register and will be prioritized.
FEMA is also working with Pennsylvania officials to assess other potential federally supported vaccination sites across the state.