Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the mass coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site at Dodger Stadium will be shut down by the end of May.
In effort of providing more appointment-free options, officials are distributing an increased amount of doses to walk-up centers and mobile clinics.
The pending closure nonetheless comes at a time when demand in the vaccination has fallen to alarming rates. Health officials revealed that appointments for the first dose of the vaccine have decreased by about 50% at L.A. county-run clinics.
There also has been a substantial drop in appointments at city-run clinics. Part of the reason to close the Dodger Stadium vaccine site is to improve the accessibility at smaller locations.
Officials hope the change makes it easier for people who can’t schedule an appointment — whether it be due to work schedules or other obstacles — to get the shot.
In May of last year the Los Angeles Dodgers allowed for Dodger Stadium to be used as a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing location. It was the largest such facility in the United States, and this past January transitioned to becoming a vaccine site.
More than 1 million people were tested at Dodger Stadium and the number of vaccine doses administered there has topped 420,000.
Even with the upcoming closure, there remains more than 700 locations in L.A. county where people can get vaccinated. At the end of April, more than 29 million vaccinations had been administered in California.
Every Californian age 16 and older currently are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
Dodgers previously changed plans for Dodger Stadium vaccine site
With the Dodgers now playing the 2021 season and welcoming fans back, the team previously outlined some changes to the Dodger Stadium vaccination site.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten told DodgerBlue.com in April the Dodger Stadium site was shifting to only being open for vaccinations when the team is playing on the road.
Kasten also confirmed the Dodger Stadium vaccine site would eventually shutter as the city of Los Angeles shifts to more community-based locations.
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