Mass Vaccination Site To Return To Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, VA — The Gander Mountain mass vaccination clinic will return to Woodbridge. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously this week to enter a month-to-month lease of the Gander Mountain site.

The mass vaccination clinic will be used primarily to administer third doses and booster shots of the coronavirus vaccines. The mass vaccination clinic previously operated from Feb. 26 to June 30.

"The County is working with the Health District as they prepare to administer vaccine booster shots," County Executive Christopher Martino wrote in a summary for the supervisors. "Because of the volume of residents that received their initial vaccination at Gander Mountain utilizing
this location again for booster shots will enable the Health District to effectively meet the anticipated demand." Martino noted that more than 155,000 vaccines were administered at the site earlier this year.

The county will pay $25,000 per month for the use of the site, which encompasses more than 78,000 square feet. The lease can be renewed on a month-to-month basis.

In his summary to the supervisors, Martino noted the popularity and accessibility of the Gander Mountain site. "This will allow residents that received their initial vaccination at Gander Mountain to return to the same location. The location is easily accessible and located close to public transportation," Martino wrote. "The Gander Mountain location was the most active Community Vaccination Center (CVC) in the state, County staff are familiar with the location and supporting activities will be easier to setup in that location."

The CDC will recommend booster shots for all Americans. Initially, third shots were only offered to immunocompromised people. "The goal is for people to start receiving a COVID-19 booster shot beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting 8 months after they received their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna)," the CDC wrote on their website.

In Prince William County, 66.8 percent of all eligible residents are fully vaccinated, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Currently, coronavirus vaccines are available to anyone aged 12 or older.