PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County is opening new mass COVID-19 vaccination center at the South Florida Fairgrounds Feb. 10 with a limited number of vaccinations. Once the location is fully up and running, a maximum of 7,000 doses will be able to be administered every day.
“Once that supply chain opens up to a very healthy amount, this county is very well resourced, we’re well prepared,” Mayor Dave Kerner said. “We have an excellent infrastructure and logistical plan.”
Palm Beach County leaders are discussing a mass vaccination site that has been set up at the South Florida Fairgrounds. It would have the potential to vaccinate up to 7,000 people a day once it opens. @WPTV @FOX29WFLX pic.twitter.com/yjxyQAt7nQ
— Ryan Hughes (@HughesWPTV) February 5, 2021
The mayor called the South Florida Fairgrounds, located on Weisman Way near West Palm Beach, one of many large facilities that will be set up in Palm Beach County to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents.
“This, as you will see, is a more convenient, centralized venue for residents in our mid-western communities,” said Darcy Davis, the CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, which will operate the site.
Davis said the Fairgrounds location will include air conditioned tents where the vaccine will be given, as well as kiosks to improve the registration process.
The Health Care District still needs to finalize some technology, connect power, and install signage before vaccinations can begin.
“We’re ready. Our teams are ready as vaccine starts to flow into the county,” Davis said. “We stand ready to expand vaccinations to help as many as we can, as quickly as we can.”
Officials said that as more supply of the COVID-19 vaccine comes to Palm Beach County over the next several months, officials will open fixed vaccination centers in southern, central, northern, and western regions of the county, as well as mobile pop-up sites.
According to the latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health, 174,573 people have received the vaccine in Palm Beach County, which is second only to Miami-Dade County where 185,755 have been inoculated.