FEMA vaccination site opens at Globe Life Field in Arlington

Globe Life Field vaccine site opens Friday

FEMA opens a new vaccination site in Arlington Friday that should be able to handle up to 3,000 people a day.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) operation in Arlington opened Friday to vaccinate people at a rate that hasn’t been seen yet in most places.

The idea is to administer up to 3,000 COVID-19 vaccines a day, or 21,000 per week.

"About this site, it’s going to be open seven days a week and it’s expected to provide approximately 21,000 shots a week," Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said.

The past two days have been a soft launch at the site to try and iron out any wrinkles in the operation.

In addition to workers with FEMA, there are U.S. Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton in South Carolina to help out.

The Arlington home of the Texas Rangers will serve people like Perrin Mack for the next four weeks. Then it will transition to nearby AT&T Stadium.

"Quick and fast, especially for the amount of people that are here today. Really easy," Mack said of his experience at the vaccination site Friday.

Federal, state, and local officials offered a look at the process Friday.

The way it works is people signed up for appointments through Tarrant County are prioritized if they live where the infection rate is higher and health care access is lower.

"For the most part, we are trying to find locations using the CDC social vulnerability index, as well as the census information, to find again those communities that are hard to reach, underserved, and may be a higher risk," said Moises Dugan, with FEMA.

The flow at Globe Life Field is patterned after the set-up at the Arlington’s E-sports complex, which will remain open as the county’s available vaccine supply warrants.

The vaccine supply at Globe Life Field is a completely separate allotment that is earmarked for FEMA’s use.

And so far, the site it getting good reviews.

"The lines went great, and once it got down to your shot, you’re not even in the chair two minutes," Jackie Dansby said. "I was thankful, thankful I got the shot!"

They will be providing both first and second-dose vaccines to people who are registered through the Tarrant County public health website and who meet the current state eligibility requirements.

FEMA also hopes to vaccinate up to 20,000 people a week at Fair Park in Dallas.

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