Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that FEMA is closing its site at the Convention Center Tuesday as well as the FEMA site at Esperanza. The city will then open a new site at the Convention Center.
FEMA is closing its two COVID-19 mass vaccination sites in Philadelphia Tuesday -- but the City of Philadelphia will be opening a new site at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
FEMA had operated federal vaccine clinics at Esperanza, in North Philadelphia, and at the Convention Center.
After the FEMA sites close, the City of Philadelphia will open a vaccine site at the Convention Center, a FEMA spokesman said.
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More than 22,000 people have been vaccinated at the Esperanza site. While it’s equipped to vaccinate more than 2,000 people a day, currently less than 300 people are showing up daily to get a shot.
Still, some community members believe the site should stay open longer because June 11, the day in which Philadelphia is expected to lift mask mandates for those who are fully vaccinated, is approaching.
“I believe the decision is one that is a bit dangerous at this time because we are not really sure where we are in the number in this particular community,” Quetzy Lozada, Vice President of Esperanza’s community services, said. “We may see by the closing of these larger sites that we may see the need to continue to mask up.”
Anyone who received their first dose of the COVID vaccine at Esperanza can receive their second dose at the Pennsylvania Convention Center or any nearby vaccination site.
