Mobile COVID-19 vaccination program to launch in targeted St. Lucie County neighborhoods
Olivia McKelvey
ST. LUCIE COUNTY— Mobile COVID-19 vaccination sites soon will be available throughout the county, specifically to target underprivileged communities, according to county officials.
The goal of the program is to provide vaccinations to people who may be unable to travel to larger vaccination sites that have been held at the Havert L. Fenn Center, the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center and the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, according to county spokesperson Erick Gill.
"This will allow us to go into neighborhoods where maybe people don't have internet access and can't register for vaccines or don't have the means to drive out to the fairgrounds and wait in line for a shot," Gill said.
Where the mobile vaccine clinics are going
The mobile vaccination sites will target areas such as Lincoln Park in Fort Pierce, Lakewood Park in Port St. Lucie and some neighborhoods west of Interstate 95, Gill said.
"The project details are still being finalized, but we hope to offer the mobile sites throughout the whole county to residents who are eligible and willing to get vaccinated," he added.
More: COVID-19 vaccine: 200 shots available daily at new, no-appointment clinic in Fort Pierce
The county has outsourced the program to two health care providers: CareHere — a Tennessee company that specializes in providing employer-sponsored health care to municipalities, state governments and private employers — and HANDS of St. Lucie County, a local health care provider serving qualified, low-income, uninsured adults.
First and second shots will be administered by physicians, nurses and other medical staff on a bus or van, according to Gill.
CareHere vaccinated 684 people at the Lincoln Park Community Center during vaccine clinics Feb. 20 and March 13, according to county officials.
More: COVID-19 vaccine: Detailed list of where and how to get your shot on Treasure Coast
Nearly 23,500 people in the county have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic last March. Of those, 1,586 were hospitalized and 569 died, according to the Florida Department of Health.
More: COVID: March 22 daily update for Treasure Coast infections, deaths, vaccinations and more
More than 69,000 people here have been vaccinated, according to the Department of Health.
The county will pay $134 per hour to CareHere and HANDS of St. Lucie County physicians, and $65 per hour for all other clinical staff, according to the contract.
What you need to get the vaccine
To get vaccinated, individuals must bring a completed consent form; a driver's license; CDC vaccination card if receiving second shot; and a state identification card or two forms of documents to prove Florida residency.
The following individuals now are eligible for a vaccination:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff
- Individuals 50 and older
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact
- Individuals determined by a physician to be extremely vulnerable by a physician
Those deemed extremely vulnerable must bring a vulnerability form from a doctor.
The time, date and place of the mobile vaccination events, and registration details, still are being finalized, Gill said.
Olivia McKelvey is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach her at olivia.mckelvey@tcpalm.com, 772-521-4380 and on Twitter @olivia_mckelvey.