Cars lined up early in the morning Jan. 13 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim for the opening of Orange County’s first super point of distribution (POD) site designed to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for up to 7,000 county residents per day.
At times, more than 200 people waited in long lines for nearly two hours outside the tents in the parking lot, anxious to receive the vaccine. Appointments are required through the county’s app, Othena.
Orange County officials held an afternoon press conference in the Toy Story parking lot to discuss the opening as people walked toward the vaccine distribution center tents behind the speakers’ podium.
“There’s no better place to have our first super POD than right here at Disneyland, a travel destination for people from around the world,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do said to open the press conference. “Today marks an important step in combating COVID-19.”
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu said it has been 10 months since Disneyland, Angel Stadium, Honda Center, and the city’s convention center were open.
“Today, we are taking a big step to address both the public health and economic crisis in our city,” Sidu told those attending the press conference.
“While we have much work ahead of us, the end is in sight. We are on a path to finally put coronavirus behind us.”
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, who also addressed the crowd, said, “The quicker we can vaccinate the population within Orange County, the quicker we‘ll get to herd immunity and fully open our economy.’’
As part of what one official called “Operation Independence,” county officials plan to add other vaccination super sites at Knott’s Berry Farm, the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, and possibly the University of California–Irvine.
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