3 new federally run vaccination sites open in Jacksonville, small line at satellite site in Normandy

Jacksonville, FL. — Today, three new federally run vaccination sites opened in the Jacksonville area.

The Gateway Mall, also known as the Gateway Town Center and located at 5200 Norwood Avenue, opened at 7 a.m. and the two satellites sites opened at 9 a.m. to the public.

Action News Jax was on location at the Normandy Community Center, located at 1751 Lindsey Road, and saw a small line form as early as 7 a.m. to secure first dose vaccines.

Daniel Lauyons lost a good friend to the virus. He said waiting outside in the cold and rain for over 2 hours was the least of his worries today.

“Playing the odds of living, you just can’t take a chance like that,” Lauyons said.

Up to 500 vaccines can be administered daily at each of the federally run satellite sites; that goes for the one in Normandy and the other at the Hammond Senior Center, 3312 W. 12th Street, in Allendale.

Ned Fayons, 66, said it’s essential to have vaccines nearby.

“It’s a needed service here in the community to have vaccines available for the community,” he said.

The two satellite sites were selected because they’re located in underserved communities, and this effort is intended to improve access to the vaccine. Today, it was a breeze for many to get their vaccine considering there was no line. One man who got his first dose told Action News Jax he was surprised by this.

“I was really shocked when I got here there was nobody here,” Danny Lindsey said. “No wait, no line or anything like that.”

The satellite sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will move every 7-10 days. Despite the small crowd here today, patients say getting a site here was worth it.

“It means living,” Lauyons said.

Cox Media Group