Jessica Kladerman
Staff Writer
Since the beginning of the year, COVID-19 vaccinations have slowly become more accessible. On the list of vaccination sites are locations like Publix, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and state-run Broward College’s North Campus.
After making an appointment in Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach resident Valerie Schreivman decided to swing by Broward College’s North Campus in Coconut Creek one morning.
“It was the most pleasurable experience,” said Schreivman, explaining the process. When she first arrived at the auditorium there were many people seated in chairs waiting for their walk-up opportunities. She had just arrived after a wave of over 100 people received their vaccinations around 11:30 a.m.
After waiting a few minutes, she was interviewed and supplied a note from her doctor explaining her medical history validating her eligibility. Once the interview was concluded, she received her first shot and sat to “cook for 15 minutes,” as she referred to the waiting period afterwards to ensure she had no reaction to the vaccine. Once the waiting period was over, she was released to go home all under an hour, approximately.
The Omni Auditorium on North Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd, will be open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. According to BC President Gregory Adam Haile, the vaccine site’s current eligibility includes health care workers with direct patient contact and anyone over 65 years old. In Schreivman’s case, her medical history allowed her eligibility as well.
The site will be open for a minimum of two months. On a first come, first serve basis there will be an estimated 200 vaccines available per day.
“In Coconut Creek, there’s seniors, and if they didn’t get it, the vaccine, they’re very close by down Lyons Road. They could go right to the library,” said Dorothy Kladerman, local Margate senior.
The area around North Campus in Coconut Creek has at least seven 55 and over communities that can benefit from having a vaccination site.
Broward College has been setting the standard for local college participation. The college has been actively involved in supporting the community with on-campus COVID-19 testing, aiding hospital partners with thousands of boxes of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, and providing prepackaged food for members in the community who have faced hardships during this time.
To schedule or pre-register for an appointment you can call the vaccination site hotline at 954-559-8321. Make sure to have state ID to verify your age, along with documentation to prove health care worker occupation upon arrival.
This location will accept appointments as well as walk-ups. For additional information, please visit https://myvaccine.fl.gov/.
