Duval County

Coronavirus: COVID-19 vaccination opportunity opens to new group Wednesday at Prime Osborne

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —

On Wednesday, the next group of people will be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19, in Duval County: medical care providers who don’t work in a hospital and those who are 65-years-old and older.

The vaccines will be given at the Prime Osborne Center in LaVilla, but those who want to get vaccinated will need to make an appointment first.

The Duval Health Department said starting Wednesday morning, people will be able to visit the their web page to make an appointment and learn more here.

The Health department said they are trying to prevent folks from having to stand in a long line.

“We’re looking at vaccinating more of our medical care providers in the community. As you may know, there are medical care providers who are not associated with hospitals. So they’ve had some difficulty getting the vaccines,” said Dr. Pauline Rolle, the Interim Director of the Duval Health Department.

Related story: Here’s how to make an appointment in Duval County if you’re 65 and older or a health care worker

Dr. Rolle said they have provided more than 9,000 vaccines— that includes long-term care facilities and healthcare workers on the front lines.

“We are getting more and more people were changing their minds. Initially, folks were very hesitant. But as they see their colleagues get vaccinated, or their family members get vaccinated, they’re saying,  ‘hey I want to get vaccinated too’ " said Dr. Rolle.

Wednesday is the first day of next-phase efforts, but Dr. Rolle said they really plan to ramp up after the holiday, on Monday.

“We’re looking at 1,000 to 2,000 a day hopefully. Again, that’s going to be based on the community response,” Dr. Rolle said.

Moving forward Dr. Rolle said their goal is to offer vaccines close to people, in every community.

“We recognize that there are transportation issues for folks, and so we’ve had discussions with Duval County Public Schools and they’ve offered their school gyms to set-up vaccination sites,” Dr. Rolle explained.

READ: CORONAVIRUS: COUNTY BY COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN

Action News Jax Courtney Cole called and e-mailed Duval County Public Schools to learn how many schools will be used and when the vaccination sites will be up-and-running. Staff is on holiday break, so she is waiting to hear back.

Clarence Wallace, who lives on Jacksonville’s East Side, said having a COVID-19 vaccination site near him would make him more inclined to get it.

“It’ll be convenient, and it eventually will change some minds I believe, about you know, the distrust in the vaccine and so forth. You know what I mean?” Wallace told Action News Jax.

Gaining trust in the Black and Hispanic communities is also something the Department of Health is working on, as they prepare to open more vaccination sites.

“We are looking to educate as well as be available to offer the vaccine. So it is critical, given, especially the comorbidities that happen in those communities, and the adverse outcomes they’ve had as a result of COVID-19,” said Dr. Rolle.

Action News Jax Gets Real: COVID-19 causes increased anxiety, depression in Latino and Hispanic communities

She believes it’s absolutely critical  to get into the communities that are often the last to receive resources, so the department plans to have a special focus on those communities.

It’s something Wallace believes could help, as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to move forward.

“As far as I’m concerned—I don’t have that same particular, complete distrust, but I think I do want to see how... you know [this vaccine works]...this is not a normal flu shot,” said Wallace.