By Tim Mastro

DOVER — Gone are days of COVID-19 vaccination sites which host thousands of people in a single day.

With 56% of Delawareans 16 years and older having already received at least one dose, state officials and their vaccination partners are looking to vaccinate whoever is left wherever they may be.

“We can’t be everywhere but we’re going to try to get as many places as we can,” said A.J. Schall, director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency. “We got some great weather coming up in May and June to get out there and really interact with the public face-to-face to help them get vaccinated.”

Mr. Schall said the state is setting up vaccination clinics in places where people gather.

There is one on site at Dover International Speedway this weekend during the NASCAR races, serving walk-ups. DEMA was also vaccinating in Newark during Main Street Alfresco outdoor dining night on Wednesday.

Mr. Schall added the state is looking at doing vaccinations at farmer’s markets, Wilmington Blue Rocks games, concerts, festivals and at the beach this summer. He said another idea was to set up at firehouses in Western Kent County or Western Sussex County where vaccination rates are lower.

“Instead of doing 5,000 people in a day, we’re going to be doing events where maybe it’s 150, 250 or 500 people in a day,” Mr. Schall said. “All of this takes a lot of planning and a lot of logistics. A lot of work goes on to make sure we allocate strategically and effectively to get the vaccine to those locations, to make sure we use it in the best time frame and maximize every drop that we have.”

Those having community events which could also host vaccinations can email vaccineevents@delaware.gov if interested.
A full list of vaccination opportunities is available at de.gov/getmyvaccine.

With eligibility being expanded to those 12 years old and older last week for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, schools have started planning their own clinics. Capital School District hosted a vaccination clinic on Wednesday at Dover High, partnering with Bayhealth. Cape Henlopen School District and Sussex Academy have each partnered with Aspira Health for vaccinations.

The Delaware Division of Public Health also opened four standalone vaccination clinics last week. These sites will serve for the next several months as an option for people to be vaccinated with or without an appointment and will use the Pfizer vaccine, for those 12 years old and up.

The four new sites are Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover (655 S. Bay Road, Suite 1A), Georgetown Plaza in Georgetown (19 Georgetown Plaza), Oxford Plaza in Newark, (256 Chapman Road, Suite 100) and Canby Park in Wilmington (1946 Maryland Avenue).

“These sites are devoted solely to vaccinations,” said DPH director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “They can handle thousands per week to help replace the capacity and through-put of our Dover Speedway site. They also are more accessible to people throughout the state. So please take advantage of these new clinics and share the word about their existence.”

Appointments can be made at these four new clinics, as well as at five Public Health clinics located in state service centers by calling 1-833-643-1715. Those five state service centers are the Winder Laird Porter State Service Center in Wilmington, the James W. Williams State Service Center in Dover, the Milford Riverwalk State Service Center, the Thurman Adams State Service Center in Georgetown and the Anna C. Shipley State Service Center in Seaford.

All sites handle walk-in traffic as well. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 and 4 p.m.