COVID-19 vaccination sites at 2 Jacksonville senior centers to close, mayor says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two city-run COVID-19 vaccination sites to close this week.

Mayor Lenny Curry announced Tuesday a major shakeup in the current locations offering COVID-19 vaccines across Duval County.

The city-run Mandarin and Lane Wiley Senior Centers could close to any new patients as early as Thursday.

Mayor Curry said between both sites, they have already vaccinated more than 8,000 people.

The city was allotted enough vaccines to give 10,750 people both doses.

However, Curry said the state is not providing any new shipment of the vaccine.

Anyone who got their first dose is asked to come back to the same center for their second dose on the assigned day.

While the Florida Division of Emergency Management is not providing anymore vaccines to the city, it will open a vaccination at the Regency Mall as early as this week.

“If I had truck loads of the vaccine in our county and city and unlimited supply, we have the manpower, personnel, and space to get this done.” Mayor Curry said. “We’re trying to get a vaccine distributed to states all over the country and to cities and counties. We’re going to have to find a way to work together.”

The Mayor reminded residents that the City of Jacksonville does not control distribution.

He said the state is notified every seven days of new shipments.

Just last week, it received 275,000 doses.

Action News Jax’s Robert Grant reached out to the Division of Emergency Management to see when Regency would open vaccinations and how many doses would be provided.

They have not responded.

Coronavirus: City COVID-19 vaccination sites closing

But Monday, a representative told Action News Jax’s Bridgette Matter that the site would be appointment only.

UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley joined the Mayor at Tuesday’s press conference.

He said, so far it has vaccinated more than 11,000 healthcare workers and patients who are 65 years and older.

Dr. Haley said their original allotment of about 19,500 is about to run out as well.

Cox Media Group