Health & Fitness

Philly's FEMA-Run Mass Vaccination Site Extended Four Weeks

The extension comes after federal officials recommended suspending the use of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine due to blood clotting issues.

People wait in line at a FEMA Community Vaccination Center at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
People wait in line at a FEMA Community Vaccination Center at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA — After Philadelphia and federal officials said the FEMA-run mass vaccination clinic in Center City Philadelphia should stay open longer, the city Wednesday announced its extension.

In a news release, the city said the Center City Vaccination Center at the Pennsylvania Convention Center will remain open through Wednesday, May 26.

The new comes a day after the FDA and CDC recommended "pausing" administration of the Johnson & Johnson due to several instances of blood clots in patients who received that vaccine.

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The site was to begin administering the J&J vaccine Tuesday, but city officials suspended the vaccine's use based on the federal recommendations as more research on the clots is done.

With the reversion back to the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, the site will remain open for four more weeks, allowing for the three-week wait period between the two doses.

Find out what's happening in Philadelphiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Health Department said it is expected to get 84,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine from the federal government on Monday.

These doses are to be used during three weeks of first dose clinics that will run through May 5.

An additional 84,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be available for second dose clinics that will run from Thursday, May 6 through Wednesday, May 26.

The Health Department has maintained a stockpile of the vaccine to help the city endure potential shortages due to weather and delivery problems.

This planning will allow the city to run the Center City Vaccination Center at full capacity, which is about 6,000 doses per day, using Pfizer doses already on-hand until the delivery on Monday.

The federally-supported allocation for this clinic is 4,000 doses per day, with the understanding that the Health Department will supplement this allocation with 2,000 doses per day to maintain the current 6,000 doses per day capacity, officials said Wednesday.

"We are very concerned about this new development, and in the interest of safety, we are following the FDA's guidance and telling all of our providers to immediately stop using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine," Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said of the J&J announcement. "I have full confidence that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine that is still available is safe and effective and strongly encourage folks to get vaccinated with those vaccines as soon as possible."

Below are details on other sites in the city that shifted following Tuesday's announcement:

Esperanza Community Vaccination Center (FEMA-supported clinic at Esperanza)
The clinic switched to Pfizer vaccine Wednesday and will maintain the current 1,000 appointments and walk-ups per day.

Health Department Community Clinics and Health Centers
Open with normal hours and operations, but will not use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Philadelphia Fire Department Community Clinics
Closed until at least Monday, April 19.

Health Department and Partner Mobile Teams
Operating, but will not use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Partner Vaccine Clinics (including Black Doctor's COVID-19 Consortium, federally qualified health centers, independent and chain pharmacies, hospitals, etc.)
These clinics will move to Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if they are using Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If they are unable to use Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, they may close. Please call ahead if you have an appointment scheduled with them.

As of Wednesday, the city has administered 629,579 partial vaccinations and 424,666 full vaccinations.


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