Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Center Coming to Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A state-run mass vaccination center will open at the former Gander Mountain store near Potomac Mills next week, according to a release from the Virginia Department of Health. The center will administer up to 3,000 vaccines per day.

The community vaccine center will replace the smaller clinic operated by Walmart at the same location. All vaccinations will still be by appointment only, and walk-ins will not be accepted.

Prince William County's community vaccine center is one of four locations announced by the state in a news release today. A center in Danville opened on Monday, one in Portsmouth will open on Tuesday, and the location in Petersburg will open on Wednesday.

The community vaccination centers are initiated by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The centers are designed to provide vaccinations on a larger scale to underserved communities that need them.

According to a release by the Prince William Health District, community vaccination centers are placed in areas that record higher rates of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths. The vaccine sites are also identified using a health equity lens, according to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

See also: Large-Scale Vaccination Centers Start To Open In Virginia

The vaccination centers are financed by a grant that FEMA awarded to the state of Virginia to assist in COVID-19 response efforts. Though the centers are state-run, the Virginia Department of Health noted that these larger vaccine clinics will not replace other local efforts to deliver vaccines.

To register for the vaccine, residents should sign up for the state's pre-registration list. Anyone can pre-register for the vaccine, regardless of their current eligibility. The Prince William Health District pulls from the state's list to schedule vaccine appointments.

People without internet access can call the state's vaccine hotline at 877-829-4682.