Covid-19 in the United States: in Baltimore, a stadium transformed into a vaccinodrome
Audio 02:35
The entrance to M&T Bank Stadium, transformed into a vaccinodrome.
In the United States, from Monday, April 19, vaccination is available to all Americans over eighteen years.
© AFP / Eric Baradat
By: Anne Corpet Follow
6 mins
In major cities across the United States, giant vaccination sites have been deployed, such as Baltimore where the University of Medicine, the State Department of Health, the National Guard and dozens of volunteers have embarked on an unprecedented partnership to transform the M&T Bank Stadium, which normally hosts football matches.
Publicity
From our special correspondent in Baltimore,
"
It's good, there is no line
," exclaims Sandy arriving in front of the stadium.
Inside, a few hundred people are still waiting.
They are recorded on an iPad before reaching the vaccination site.
"
Take off your coats and prepare your identity cards
", asks a soldier of the National Guard who welcomes the arrivals.
Lt. Col. Charles Westenberger oversees operations.
He was the one who organized the Baltimore Stadium Vaccinodrome.
“
Eighteen days after having had the keys to the stadium, we were open to vaccination.
You see the two bars there, they've been turned into a pharmacy.
About 25 pharmacists prepare the doses there,
”he shows.
Then he continues: “
There are 74 vaccination posts.
Each is equipped with a computer where we enter patient data, so we have already vaccinated 150,000 people to date and we have been open since February 5.
We started with 150 to 200 injections per day, now we are doing
6,000 per day.
"
► Read also: Covid-19: in the United States, to attract tourists, Alaska will offer a vaccine
"One of the best nursing jobs I have ever had"
Megan Thaggard, a nurse from Tennessee, responded to the call from the State of Maryland to pay her for this mission.
It vaccinates around 300 people per day.
“
Everyone is going one way, the flow is flowing well, in fact it's like assembly line work in the factory.
It's one of the best nursing jobs I've ever had,
”says the nurse.
Patty Robey, 60, sits down in front of the nurse and rolls up her sleeve.
“
I signed up online but never got a response so it's really great knowing that here you can just show up and get a dose,
” she says.
The nurse gives the injection and the patient is delighted: “
It didn't hurt at all
”.
► See also: Covid-19 in the United States: vaccination for all and total reopening of California
"The joy of people who are vaccinated"
Patty is facing a row of seats at the back of the room.
This is the observation space, explains Doctor Jason Marx.
“
They sit for a quarter of an hour, in case they have an allergic reaction.
After that quarter of an hour, they can go to the selfie stand at the end of the stadium, where they can take a picture of themselves in front of a sign that says they have been vaccinated, and then they leave.
Everyone here feels the joy of people who are vaccinated,
”adds the doctor.
The doctor even remembers a patient who came to be vaccinated in a wedding dress to signify that it was one of the happiest days of her life.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Coronavirus
Vaccines