Photo Credit: www.littlerock.com
In Little Rock, four mass COVID-19 vaccination events are planned for April 10, May 1, May 22, and June 12. They will be large-scale clinics held at the Simmons Bank Arena between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Each clinic is prepared to vaccinate 1000 to 2000 people, and UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson says they are “working together with the state’s cities, counties, insurers and nonprofit organizations, we try to ensure that none of Arkansas’ 3 million residents will fall through the cracks. All of us want to maximize access to vaccines in as many ways as we can”.
According to Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, “fewer than 30 percent of [Pulaski County’s] population has received at least one dose, and approximately 12 percent are fully vaccinated. All eligible vaccine recipients are strongly encouraged to receive a vaccine at the first opportunity.” Anyone 16 or older is currently eligible to receive a vaccine, but those under 18 hoping to receive a shot need to come with a parent or guardian. Face masks are required and, while there is no out-of-pocket cost to receive the vaccine, clinic attendees are encouraged to bring insurance cards and valid IDs.
State Senator Linda Chesterfield encourages everyone eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible: “I’ve had a family member who died from COVID-19, so it is very personal for me. It is important that every Arkansan get vaccinated, and we can do that with vaccination efforts like this one.” The necessity of receiving the vaccine as soon as possible is a common theme among speakers, with state Rep. Jamie Scott saying that “with more efforts like this one across the state, we can defeat the virus and earn a victory for public health.” Simmons Bank Arena has a seating capacity of 18,000, and its general manager Michael Marion says “we have hosted many types of activities, performances and celebrities, but few, if any, have had the importance of these vaccination clinics.”