Disneyland has remained closed since the coronavirus pandemic hit the US in March, and the company has braided tens of thousands of employees. Now the theme park will become the first mass vaccination site in Orange County, California, as the state faces it records COVID-19 deaths.
Government officials announced late Monday that Disneyland will be the first “Super Point-of-Dispensing” (POD) site in the country when it begins operations later this week.
“Disneyland Resort, the largest employer in the heart of Orange County, has stepped up to host the province’s first Super POD website. It has undertaken a monumental task in our distribution process,” said acting chairman Andrew Do, supervisor of Orange County, which is the first District, said in a statement.
The province plans to open more Super POD sites soon, with five local sites that can vaccinate thousands of people daily, making the vaccination process much more efficient.
“Coronavirus has caused both a public health crisis and economic devastation,” said Harry Sidhu, mayor of Anaheim. “With this super-site, we will both begin to overcome. Every vaccination done in Anaheim will help save lives and expedite the reopening and restoration of our city.”
In line with the process in large parts of the U.S., vaccines are being distributed in Orange County through a phased, driven approach, with law enforcement and first response among the first to be vaccinated. Residents older than 75 can also receive the vaccine.
Those who meet the criteria must schedule an appointment at a Super POD site to be vaccinated, officials said.
Orange County has a population of about 3.1 million people. According to provincial data, more than 190,000 residents have tested positive for coronavirus since the onset of the pandemic.
“Disneyland Resort is proud to help support Orange County and the city of Anaheim with the use of our property, and we are grateful for all their efforts to combat COVID-19,” said Dr. Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, told CBS News. “After a year in which so many in our community have experienced unprecedented hardship and uncertainty, there is now reason for optimism with the administration of a vaccine.”
California Gov. Newsom Gavin Newsom said Monday that the state will increase its coronavirus vaccination efforts this week. mass vaccination sites at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Petco Park in San Diego and Cal Expo in Sacramento. The state reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths over the weekend.
Newsom said the state’s goal was to vaccinate another 1 million people by the weekend.