FEMA sites now offer Pfizer or J&J surveys

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. As of Saturday morning, both the Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccinations are available at the Gateway Mall, the Normandy Community Center and the Hammond Senior Center in Jacksonville.

Every eligible person who receives a vaccine at one of the Federal Emergency Management Agencies in Jacksonville will have the choice of the vaccine.

• Gateway Mall – 5200 Norwood Avenue – 07:00 to 19:00

• Hammond Senior Center – 3312 West 12 St.

• Normandy Community Center – 1751 Lindsey Road

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The Duval County Alarm System sent out a message Saturday morning reminding those who have signed up for its system about who is now eligible for a COVID-19 shot.

Those currently eligible to receive a vaccine on a FEMA website include:

• Long-term care residents and staff;

• Persons aged 65 and over;

• Healthcare staff with direct contact with patients;

• All school staff and child care workers;

• The extremely medically vulnerable regardless of age with a signed waiver from your doctor;

• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years and older; and

• Firefighters 50 years and older.

After many changes to who is eligible for the shot, some said they think more people would come on Saturday, especially teachers, as this is the first weekend available in the city, regardless of age.

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But there were no lines Saturday at the Gateway Mall.

“I think it’s just the point now to give back the message to the community that they can come here and get the chance,” said Demita Gamble, who was vaccinated on Saturday.

FEMA said about 790 people were vaccinated at Gateway Mall on Saturday. That’s just over a third of the 2,000 shots it can give per day on the site.

It was a rainy end to COVID-19 vaccinations for the first Saturday at the Gateway Town Center.

“I expected there to be a longer drive,” a Duval County teacher said.

“I don’t think it’s advertised enough, and a lot of people really do not know it’s going on,” said Roosevelt Gamble, who was vaccinated.

There have been many changes in who gets the chance on this site and who does not. Some people have said that it may be part of the reason why there is not much turnout at present.

“I think a lot of people are just skeptical about it and are afraid of it,” said Maxine Frison, who received the vaccine on Saturday.

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The Department of Health said as of Friday, 137,499 people had completed their series of vaccinations in Duval County. The series contains both doses of Pfizer and Moderna and the single recording of Johnson and Johnson.

According to the Department of Health, 1,902,314 people in the state completed the vaccine range, which means both shots from Pfizer and or Moderna, and the single shot from J&J. Of these, 1,413,491 people are 65 and older.

The website at Gateway Mall is open seven days a week from 07:00 to 19:00

Government Ron DeSantis said Friday that he expects to lower the age from 65 to 65 or 55 or higher, as more vaccine will be available later this month.