Dallas Fire Rescue will open Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Thursday as a vaccination hub. The city has received 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and will distribute vaccine nine hours a day through Saturday.
"We are hopeful we will get another allotment next week, hopefully a little more than 5,000, but we will take whatever allocation the state gives us," says Dallas Emergency Management Director Rocky Vaz.
The convention center will be operated by 80 Dallas Fire Rescue employees who will be working at 16 vaccination stations. People will never get out of their car. They will be directed to a parking garage and receive their vaccination after their information is verified.
"Once they get scheduled, we'll send out information on where to show up and what time," says Dallas Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Bret Stidham, the incident commander for the vaccine hub. "Once they get here, the total process will take about an hour."
Reservations are required through the Dallas County Health and Human Services website. Vaccinations at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will be open to any Texas resident.
"Based on the designation as a hub, we are expected to vaccinate any Texan who is on the waiting list, similar to I could register in Harris County [in Houston] if I wanted to," Vaz says.
While Texas residents are vaccinated on one level of the parking garage, Stidham says second vaccinations for 2,100 Dallas Fire Rescue and 3,500 Dallas Police employees will continue on another level. He says more than half of police and firefighters should be fully vaccinated by the end of this week.
Stidham says Dallas Fire Rescue is prepared for 200 people to pass through the clinic each hour.
"As you can imagine, with 200 people showing up per hour, it takes a lot," he says. "We're working very closely with the convention center to help us with our logistical needs. We've got a transportation plan we've got worked out with DPD. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes."
People will be required to be in a car. Stidham says the city will work with people who do not have a car to arrange for another option. People can get more information by calling (469) 749-9900, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
