FEMA-supported vaccine sites keep popping up. Here is where they’re opening next.
A handful of federally supported walk-up vaccine sites in Florida are up and running. But as some pop-up locations close, there will be 11 more locations opening across the state in the coming days.
You don’t need an appointment at any of these sites to get either a Pfizer jab or a limited supply of Johnson & Johnson shots each day. The sites are also open to anyone over 18 who is either an educator or has a doctor’s prescription for a shot.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Where are they located?
The sites consist of large “hub” vaccine sites in Miami-Dade County, Orange County, Duval County and Hillsborough County. Each site is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Smaller satellite locations are scattered nearby and change location every three to seven days.
Main hubs offer 4,000 shots a day. Satellite locations offer up to 500 shots a day. They operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Although these sites have been dubbed “FEMA sites” by many, a spokeswoman for FEMA said that’s a misnomer because they are led by the Florida Department of Health. “State government also determines vaccination priorities and procedures,” the spokeswoman said.
Here’s a breakdown, by county, of where you can find each hub and satellite location.
Miami-Dade County
The primary hub is located at Miami Dade College North, at 11380 NW 27th Ave. in Miami. It is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Two satellite locations are also open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Wednesday, March 10. They are located at:
Ronselli Park Youth Center at 250 SW 114th Ave. in Sweetwater
Florida City Youth Activity Center at 650 NW 5th Ave. in Florida City
From March 11 to March 17, the above two sites will close and relocate to the following locations:
Uleta Park Community Center at 386 NE 169th St. in North Miami Beach
Miami Springs Community Center at 1401 Westward Drive in Miami Springs
Orange County
The primary hub is located at Valencia College West Campus at 1800 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando.
Two satellite locations also are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 10. They are located at:
Kelly Park at 400 E. Kelly Park Road in Apopka
Highlands County Sports Complex at 216 Sheriffs Tower Road in Sebring
From March 11 to March 13, the above two sites will close and relocate to the following locations:
Rolling Hills Park at 4950 N. Pine Hills Road in Orlando
Mary Jane Arrington Aquatic Center at 625 Country Club Drive in Poinciana
From March 14 to March 17, the above sites will close again and relocate to:
East Orange Neighborhood Park at 12080 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando
Avon Park Parks & Recreation at 207 Malcolm St. in Avon Park
Duval County
The primary hub is located at Gateway Mall at 5200 Norwood Ave. in Jacksonville.
Two satellite locations also are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 13. They are located at:
Hammond Senior Center at 3312 W. 12th St. in Jacksonville
Normandy Community Center at 1751 Lindsey Road in Jacksonville
From March 14 to March 23, the above two sites will close and relocate to the following locations:
Carver Recreation Center at 777 Fifth Ave. S in Jacksonville Beach
Oceanway Community Center at 12215 Sago Ave. W in Jacksonville
Hillsborough County
The primary hub is located at Tampa Greyhound Track at 755 E. Waters Ave. in Tampa.
Two satellite locations also are now open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 10. They are located at:
Hillsborough Community College – Brandon Campus at 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive in Tampa
Lake Maude Park at 1751 Seventh St. NE in Winter Haven
The above two sites will close and relocate to the following locations:
From March 11 to March 13: Hillsborough Community College – SouthShore Campus at 551 24th St. NE in Ruskin
From March 14 to March 17: Plant City Stadium at 1810 S. Park Road in Plant City
From March 11 to March 17: Winn Dixie at 1860 Highway 60 East in Lake Wales
Who can get a shot?
According to the Florida Department of Health, the following people can line up at these satellite locations for a jab in the arm:
Long-term care facility residents and staff
Persons 65 years of age and older
Health care personnel with direct patients
Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of ages and older
Firefighters 50 years of age and older
In addition, these sites allow a few exceptions that are different than other state-run sites. They include:
K-12 school employees who are 18 years and older.
Anyone age 18 and older who has either a doctor’s prescription for the vaccine or a Florida Department of Health form filled out by a physician deeming them “extremely vulnerable.”
Is it worth the drive?
Likely, yes. At least if Miami is any indication.
The combined total of vaccines administered at all three sites in Miami-Dade, Florida’s most populated county, has hovered below the 5,000 threshold they were built to operate at, according to data from the Department of Health.
From March 5 to March 7, all three sites in Miami-Dade gave out about 4,140 shots a day combined, on average.
The primary site at Miami-Dade College North had an average of 500 leftover shots from March 5 to March 7 according to the data. The satellite site averaged less than 100 leftover shots.
Andrew Boryga, aboryga@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4533 or Twitter: @borywrites
