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San Diego's Busiest COVID-19 Vaccination Site Reopens Tuesday, Prioritizing Second Doses

Lawrence Mendoza from Vista get his COVID-19 vaccination at CSU San Marcos, Feb. 22, 2021.
Matt Hoffman
Lawrence Mendoza from Vista get his COVID-19 vaccination at CSU San Marcos, Feb. 22, 2021.

After being shuttered since Friday due to a shortage of doses, the Petco Park vaccination super station run by UC San Diego Health will reopen Tuesday.

Curious how the vaccine rollout is going in San Diego County? KPBS is tracking the progress.

The site was also closed for a few day the previous week due to a missed shipment. Equipped to provide 5,000 doses per day, it is the busiest vaccination site in the region.

"My mom was one of the ones that had Moderna down at Petco Park and then was postponed due to the fact that they are out of Moderna," said Tami Taylor who was getting vaccinated at CSU San Marcos Monday.

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"They postponed her nine days," Taylor said about her mom's second dose appointment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said second dose shots can be given up to six weeks after the first.

"So that’s the middle between the fifth and the six week so I’m praying that she will get her vaccine by Thursday," said Taylor.

VIDEO: Petco Park Vaccination Will Reopen Tuesday, Many Sites Prioritizing Second Dose Appointments

Taylor called herself a "vaccine chaser." She is not a health care worker or over 65, but a few weeks ago she was able to get a dose in San Marcos that otherwise would have gone bad.

"Once a vaccine has been thawed out, it has to be used that day," Taylor said.

Taylor takes care of both of her parents, plus she is a teacher at Paloma Elementary in San Marcos.

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"I feel very strongly that teachers need to be vaccinated," Taylor said.

Other county-supported super stations, mobile sites and smaller locations are still offering vaccinations but are prioritizing second doses.

"Second shot — booster whatever you want to call it — we’re happy," said Connie Schwartz from Rancho Bernardo who got her second dose at the CSU San Marcos super station Monday.

Her husband Jim said they want to get vaccinated quickly to see grandkids they have been away from for more than a year.

"We have grandchildren in Minnesota and we will not be able to see them until we get a shot," he said.

The COVID-19 vaccination site at CSU San Marcos. Feb. 22, 2021.
Matt Hoffman
The COVID-19 vaccination site at CSU San Marcos. Feb. 22, 2021.

Other seniors getting vaccinated in San Marcos Monday also hoped that getting vaccinated meant getting back to normal.

"I have my first granddaughter — she’s two and she’s living with us," said Lawrence Mendoza from Vista. "We want to go to SeaWorld, the zoo, the animal park — stuff like that."

UC San Diego Health officials are encouraging everyone who missed appointments to check their emails as appointments will automatically be rescheduled. A UCSD Health spokesperson said people should only arrive on their confirmed, reschedule appointment date — otherwise they will be turned away.

San Diego's Busiest COVID-19 Vaccination Site Reopens Tuesday, Prioritizing Second Doses
Listen to this story by Matt Hoffman.