Walk-Ups Now Allowed For 1 Week At COVID-19 Vaccine Site At Pennsylvania Convention Center
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The COVID-19 vaccination site at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is now allowing walk-ups. For the next week, Philadelphians who are eligible can get their shot without making an appointment.
Walk-up access will run for six days at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, but to be eligible to walk up for a COVID-19 shot you must be in category 1A or 1B and you must live in one of 22 underserved zip codes:
West and Southwest Philadelphia
- 19104
- 19131
- 19139
- 19142
- 19143
- 19151
- 19153
North Philadelphia
- 19122
- 19132
- 19133
- 19134
- 19140
Northeast and Lower Northeast Philadelphia
- 19116
- 19120
- 19124
- 19135
- 19136
- 19138
- 19141
- 19144
- 19149
- 19152
So there are specific requirements to gain access at the convention center when it comes to walking up.
The city says this is being done to better reach under-vaccinated areas.
Generally speaking, the 22 eligible zip codes fall in West and Southwest Philadelphia, North Philadelphia and Northeast and lower Northeast Philadelphia.
Residents who want to walk up will need to arrive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Lillian Roche made sure her mother Esther was first in line. They grabbed their spot outside the Center City mass vaccination site at 5 a.m. Wednesday, three hours before the doors opened.
"I tried to register her on the website, but they haven't gotten back to me. And so, when this was thrown out there, I said, 'mom, let's just take the opportunity and come now,'" Lillian Roche, of North Philadelphia, said.
Not too far behind, Lisa Kennedy. She works around people every day and couldn't wait to get her COVID-19 vaccine.
"If you want the shot, you gotta get up early and stand in line," Kennedy, of West Philadelphia, said. "I'm used to being out in the cold. I work for the post office."
You need to bring an ID or a piece of mail that can prove your residency, and the screening starts outside so you need to prepare to wait outside - that means dress appropriately.
This site is capable of administering 6,000 vaccines a day.
Philly Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley says half of those will now be allocated to walk-ups.
"There will be 3,000 slots that are called open access slots where no appointment is needed," Farley said. "Not for everyone, these are strictly just for people who live in the 22 zip codes that are the most under-vaccinated, the lowest vaccinated 22 zip codes in the city who are eligible based on age, medical conditions, or employment."
The other 3,000 doses will go to folks with appointments.
So this becomes a hybrid operation starting Wednesday: half appointments and half walk-ups.
Walk-ups will be taken for the next six days, lasting through March 22.
For more information, click here.
