MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — One of the biggest COVID-19 testing sites in South Florida is now accepting appointments for people 65 and older to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
A registration hotline opened on Friday at 8 a.m. for a new COVID-19 vaccination site at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-888-499-0840.
You can get only get vaccinated at Hard Rock Stadium if you have an appointment.
On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a "soft opening" of the new COVID-19 vaccination site is underway, with residents from local senior communities and retired firefighters and law enforcement officers receiving the vaccine at Hard Rock Stadium.
The governor said health care workers will give a minimum of 1,000 shots per day when the operation is fully up-and-running.
Patients won't have to leave their cars. After getting the vaccine, you'll pull over into a designated spot in the parking lot and wait for 15 minutes to make sure there are no side effects or complications.
"That's a pretty efficient way of delivering this, and I think it's gonna be very exciting," DeSantis said. "This is yet another tool to be able to deliver vaccine."
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In a statement, Florida's Division of Emergency Management said this about the new Hard Rock Stadium location:
"All individuals will be asked to make an appointment and are encouraged to bring a government-issued form of identification and health insurance information to the site. The government-issued ID does not need to be a Florida Driver’s License. Additional sites will be announced as the state receives additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine."
For more information about making an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Hard Rock Stadium, click here.
Important update on the state-run @HardRockStadium vaccination site: Beginning today at 8 am, registration will open for appointments at Hard Rock by phone (1,000 appointments per day over the coming week).
— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) January 8, 2021
To register call: 1-888-499-0840
TTY #: 1-888-256-8918
Hard Rock Stadium will be at the center of the college sports world on Monday when Alabama takes on Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
DeSantis said on Wednesday he doesn't believe the game will be a concern for those attempting to get vaccinated or tested at the stadium.
"I don't think it means you need to shut it down," DeSantis said. "Maybe it'll close a little early, but I think you can still do it, even on that day."
