3 Pinellas County Locations You Can Get A COVID-19 Vaccine Without an Appointment

Pinellas Park, Clearwater and St. Pete sites will offer walk-up vaccinations beginning today. Hillsborough County has one in Tampa and now Pinellas will have 3 locations where you can get the coronavirus vaccine without registering online first and waiting to hear back. No appointment will be necessary, but you will need to meet the criteria listed below. Many Publix, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club and health care centers are also offering the vaccines, but it’s still by appointment.

The sites will be open from 1-4pm today (March 12) and 9am-3pm Saturday at:

• Pinellas Park Center, 7550 43rd Street N., Pinellas Park
• Clearwater Center 707 E. Druid Road, Clearwater
• Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center 1344 22nd St. Street, St. Petersburg

In his address to the nation from the White House, President Biden directed states to make the vaccine available to all Americans by May 1. Next week the minimum age to get the vaccine will drop to 60 here in Florida. For this weekend, it’s still just those of 65 years of age and up who can get the shot… with a few exceptions. Those who are eligible to get the vaccine right now:

• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Persons 65 years of age and older
• Health care personnel with direct patients
• K-12 school employees
• Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of ages and older
• Firefighters 50 years of age and older

8 Changes Likely at Concerts During COVID-19

• Musicians on stage may have to abide by social distancing rules.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "The authoritative guidance requiring not less than six feet (two meters) of social distance may have to be expanded for singers and musical instrument players. Musicians often breathe deeply and expel aerosols further than people engaged in non-physical activities. Their performance space, including on stage and in orchestra pits, should be arranged to maximize social distancing while allowing at least some of them to perform together."  

• Getting a drink will be even more of a process.

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  In addition to there being a recommended worker for just ringing up drink orders, "At a self-service restaurant or concession stand, the number of counter staff should be limited consistent with social distancing. Workers should place food and beverages on the table, counter, or other surface rather than handing purchases directly to patrons...Bartenders should model safe behavior by wearing a face covering and gloves when they are behind the bar...Patrons should hold their own identification for bartender inspection. If a worker must handle a patron’s ID, the worker should then dispose of their gloves and wash their hands before resuming service."

• If there’s an intermission, people won’t be dismissed all at once.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Intermission presents the same social distancing challenges as ingress [entering a venue] and egress [exiting a venue], with the distinction that some patrons will remain seated. For everyone who chooses to get up, they will have to be led out from back to front, and patrons will not be allowed to congregate inside or outside restrooms or near lobby concession stands. Even with fewer people attending events during the early phase of reopening, intermission may have to be longer than before to allow time for socially distanced patron movement. Given these issues, including how to let some people out of a row while others remain seated, the path of least resistance may simply be shorter shows with no intermission."
• Any changes a venue makes needs to be very visible to the public.

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  If a venue makes any changes to policies related to how they handle health and safety issues, they are advised to make them as clear as possible and list them basically everywhere including on their website, social media channels, various ticket purchasing sites, emails/push notifications, their mobile app and signage in their venue. In other words: Get ready for A LOT of updates.

• Restrooms will likely have strict person limits.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Workers should limit occupancy of restrooms to ensure social distancing. Unless portable restroom facilities are added, this will likely result in patrons waiting outside the restroom doors. The area where they are waiting will require monitoring to preserve (a) appropriate space between patrons and (b) an easily discernible line to avoid conflict about where the line begins. 

• Socially-Distanced Smoking Areas.

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  It's recommended that "... even hallways and smoking areas where patrons congregate will have to be monitored to enforce health policies."
• No Merch Tables/Stands.

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  Instead of buying an artist's t-shirt at a merch stand/booth, it's recommended that "...items for sale can be posted on a web site or event app that allows for mobile ordering and on-site pickup." If there is a merch table/booth present, "Mark merchandise sales lines on floor, with barricade, or rope and stanchion, patrolled by guest services workers to provide information and enforce social distancing." It's also recommended there be no trying on of merch and to have contactless payment.

• No Moshing/Crowd Surfing.

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  Per the Event Safty Alliance's (ESA) 'Reopening Guide for Event Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,' "Patrons cannot all stand at the front of the stage like they are accustomed; moshing and crowd surfing are violations of social distancing per se and must be absolutely prohibited during this pandemic."