The wait is nearly over and it is almost our turn to fight the coronavirus. Over the past few months, large venues like Dodger Stadium have been used as mass COVID-19 test sites. Now some are being turned into vaccination super sites.
Now that recent changes have been made to who gets vaccines, the need for vaccine super sites has made it to the here and now.
Along with Dodger Stadium and Petco Park in San Diego, Anaheim’s own Disneyland Resort is sticking to its nickname of the “happiest place on earth” as it is going to become the first of several large COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites to open up in California as cases rage and hospitals hit maximum capacity.
Disneyland has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in March of 2020. The park is best known as “the House the Mouse built” and it is set to become the first mass-vaccination site in Orange County that will distribute the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
Government officials announced on January 11th that Disneyland was the first “Super Point-of-Dispensing” (POD) site in the county when it begins operations in a few days. “The Disneyland Resort, the largest employer in the heart of Orange County, has stepped up to host the county’s first Super POD site — undertaking a monumental task in our vaccination distribution process,” acting chairman Andrew Do, Orange County Supervisor, representing the First District, said in a statement.
“Coronavirus has brought both a public health crisis and economic devastation. With this super site, we will begin to overcome both“
Harry Sidhu | Mayor, City of Anaheim
Governor Gavin Newsom announced similar vaccination sites would be opening up as early as this week at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, Cal Expo in Sacramento, and Petco Park in San Diego. “We recognize that the current strategy is not going to get us to where we need to go as quickly as we all need to go,” Newsom said. The Golden State has the third highest death rate in the country thus far.
UPDATE: New LA sites (Dodger Stadium -already open)The Forum in Inglewood, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Cal State University Northridge, the Pomona Fairplex, the L.A. County Office of Education’s headquarters in Downey, Long Beach Convention Center, L.A. County is establishing another 75 smaller vaccination centers.
Other Southern California sites to open: Petco Park, Knott’s Berry Farm and Soka University.
Vaccine distribution is based on a tiered prioritization list issued by the state of California. Phase 1a is about three million people in total, including healthcare workers and long-term care residents. This also includes law enforcement first responders who work in high-risk areas and seniors 75 and older. The Phase 1b tier consists of those who work in education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture.
Vaccinations at the Disneyland site will be scheduled through a third-party app that was developed in cooperation with Orange County.
Disneyland is providing the county with a guest parking lot at 300 West Katella Blvd. in Anaheim, also known as the Toy Story Parking Lot. County officials said those eligible to be vaccinated in Phase 1a would be contacted through their employer to schedule an appointment.
Both Disneyland and California Adventure remain closed due to the state of California orders to slow the spread of COVID. Parts of Downtown Disney remain open.
We can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel and better imagine our lives getting back to whatever “normal” will be. For now, we need to stay vigilant and stay safe. We are almost there, friends! Together, we can do this!
What You Need To Know
The Toy Story lot at Disneyland Resort will be used by OC as a point of dispensing site for the coronavirus vaccine.
OC residents and workers who meet the state’s Phase 1a criteria are eligible to receive the vaccine at Disneyland Resort and will be contacted through their employer.
Walk-ins are NOT recommended. Orange County plans to vaccinate all residents by July.
FOR MORE INFORMARTION
UPDATE: Other tiers to consider
Phase 1B, Tier One includes:
People 65 and older
Workers in education, like teachers, and childcare
Emergency services workers
Food and agriculture workers, like farm workers and grocery workers
Phase 1B, Tier Two:
Workers in transportation and logistics
Industrial, residential and commercial sectors
Critical manufacturing workers
Incarcerated individuals
Homeless individuals
Phase 1C will include:
Anyone 50 and older
Anyone 16 to 64 years old with an underlying health condition or disability
Workers in water and waste management
Workers in the defense, energy and chemical sectors
Communications and IT workers
Financial services and government operations workers
