ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The new mass vaccination site is under construction at the Navy/Marine Corp stadium in Annapolis. This is a joint state and county venture.
Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha Wolford has a slogan for this massive project.
"We have needles, we want arms. That's what we're looking for," Wolford said.
This is officially know as a FEMA Type 2 site, capable of giving 3,000 shots a day. This will be a walk up site with plenty of parking at the stadium. Wolford's goal for this vaccination site is not much different than putting out a fire, get it done quickly.
"Once you're in the vaccination room then it only takes three minutes once you sit down, get the shot and have to walk through," Wolford explained.
About 125 fire personnel will help run this vaccination site each day. That number should drop as the need for vaccines declines. The site will have a soft open on the 15th and 16th with 500 shots a day.
The 16th and 17th will have 1,000 vaccines a day. After that they hope to handle 1,500 a day and then move into a 3,000 dose a day operation.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department is a perfect fit for this program. They've had a lot of experience with vaccination sites.
"We are medically based that's what we do every day, we're logistics base, we're very efficient. That's part of our strength as a para-military organization. You give us a mission, we know what it is, we hit go and we are forward thinking with it," Wolford said.
Knowing that some may have concerns about getting the vaccine, Chief Wolford has more motivation for you.
"Who doesn't want to meet a nice firefighter that's going to chat with you as you get your vaccine and give you an awesome band aid and sticker?" Wolford asked.
They will be handing out "awesome band aids and stickers" Wednesday's through Sunday's at this vaccination site.
Travel accommodations will also be made.
County residents can call the Office of Transportation at 410-222-0225 or 410-222-0047 Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm to schedule a free ride to their vaccination appointment.
Also, the Office of Transportation’s AA-Gold College Parkway service route will offer access to the Rowe Boulevard / Taylor Avenue stop by the Navy Stadium to reach the mass vaccination site. This service is free of charge during the pandemic.
