INDIANAPOLIS — A community vaccine clinic opened Thursday at the Indianapolis Urban League, the first COVID-19 community vaccine event hosted by Walmart at the site.
Their goal is to provide access to the vaccine to those most vulnerable.
“We want to make sure that the entire community takes advantage of it but especially the black community and people of color,” Tony Mason, the president of Indianapolis Urban League, said.
“It was absolutely great,” Sunshine Rucker, who received her vaccine there, said. “Friendly service, easy getting in and getting out.”
All day, people were filing into the Indianapolis Urban League to get their shot.
“It went very well,” Mario Fedeli, who also received his shot, said. “It was very organized. On-time. No delays. I’m very happy with it.”
Mason said he was happy when Walmart reached out to them to host a vaccine clinic through its Federal Retail Pharmacy Program to better serve those in the community.
“We recognize that we have people in this community who do not have cars, do not have access to transportation,” Mason said. “But the one great thing about our location we actually sit on an IndyGo bus line here on Indiana Avenue.”
“It’s nice to be in the community and to be able to get the services,” Rucker said. “I am just really elated. I live very nearby here so this is so convenient for me.”
Walmart hopes to vaccinate 250 people per day, operating every Thursday through Monday for the next six weeks.
“I thought as soon as we were eligible at 60, I wanted to get it done,” Fedeli said
For those 60 and older, now eligible as of this week, there are immediate openings.
“It was the first available appointment,” Fedeli said. “All the others were about two weeks out.”
“We hope people will take advantage of this,” Mason said. “If for no other reason, if you don’t do it for yourself, do it for your family your friends your neighbors your community.”
“We have to grow community,” Rucker said. “And once we grow community and people feel like they are a part of it, we can do some amazing things.”
The Indianapolis Urban League vaccine clinic will be open from every 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Monday. You can schedule an appointment there by calling 211 or going online to ourshot.in.gov. No insurance is required and there is no cost to receive the vaccine.
