Coronavirus

Coronavirus: High-volume vaccination site opens at San Francisco City College

ByAmy Hollyfield and Lyanne Melendez KGO logo

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Coronavirus: Hundreds vaccinated at SF City College

Hundreds of San Franciscans were able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 Friday morning at San Francisco City College.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Hundreds of San Franciscans were able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 Friday morning at San Francisco City College, and the common feeling among those lucky enough to secure a spot in line was joy and relief.

This is the first mass vaccination site in the city and about 500 were able to make appointments for Friday morning.

Another 10,000 doses will be available next week in San Francisco.

The City College site opened at 8 a.m.

Vaccinations will be happening all weekend at San Francisco City College, but on an appointment-only basis. All the appointments have already been booked.

Right now health care workers, people in long term care facilities and those 65 and over are in the top tier for vaccinations.

But there is talk in Sacramento about making age a priority over other sectors like education and emergency services.

Mayor Breed said that may not be the best strategy.

"Our schools are still closed, we need to prioritize our educators, our police officers are on the front line still making arrests and dealing with the challenges of the city," the mayor explained.

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VACCINE TRACKER: How California is doing, when you can get a coronavirus vaccine

For some getting the vaccine Friday, this meant there is an end in sight to the pandemic.

The city is still facing serious shortfalls when it comes to vaccine supply.

Earlier this week, Mayor London Breed told ABC7 the city could run out of vaccines by Thursday.

The Moderna vaccine was cleared for use by the state of California, which freed up doses for San Francisco.

Earlier this week, San Francisco leaders said they hope to vaccinate everyone by the end of June, meaning 10,000 people per day.

Mayor Breed also pointed out yesterday that when it comes to vaccinating people, San Francisco is somewhat unique when compared to other Bay Area cities.

"Many of the people who work for the city and county of San Francisco also live in other places we we're helping the entire region so that has to be taken into consideration. I am being very aggressive with the state about our need to get more vaccines now," Breed said.

Meanwhile the rate of positive cases is going down. That's promising news for businesses desperate to reopen.

Besides City College, two other mass vaccination sites are set to open by Feb. 1 at Moscone Center and at the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market.

They will be run in partnership with private providers like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and Sutter Health.

For more information on San Francisco's COVID vaccine plan, click here.

VIDEO: Coronavirus: 500 doses to be given Friday at City College of SF