Disneyland to become massive COVID-19 vaccination site
The happiest place on earth will live up to its name for those looking to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Local officials in Orange County, California announced this week that Disneyland will become a massive site for COVID vaccinations. This follows news that Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles will also convert to a vaccination site by the end of the week.
"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 of the First District said in a statement. "We truly appreciate the support of the Orange County Fire Authority, our cities, and our residents as we continue to rollout COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the county."
The Disneyland site will be a "Super POD" site (place-of-distribution) with the capacity to vaccinate thousands of Anaheim residents daily, according to the county. The first Super POD site at Disneyland Resort will be operational later this week. The county also states those eligible to receive the vaccination during this early phase will be contacted through their employers via a third-party app developed in cooperation with Orange County.
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"It's important to vaccinate as many willing people as possible for COVID-19, and we need the space to do it," Supervisor Donald P. Wagner of the Third District said. "I thank Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim for stepping up in the shared effort to give OC residents protection against the virus."
Disneyland executives had been openly admonishing the California government earlier in October, claiming they proved they could "responsibly reopen, with science-based health and safety protocols strictly enforced at our theme park properties around the world." Meanwhile, California guidelines for COVID containment allowed large parks to remain open if transmission rates in the county fell to the lowest tier (one new case of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents per day).
California, and specifically Southern California, continue to experience a high number of COVID cases, prompted by a holiday surge. The state has now faced more than 12,000 deaths and more than 900,000 cases.
For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19), including how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you are sick, please visit coronavirus.gov.
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