Osceola County’s 1st ‘Spoke Site’ Opens in St. Cloud

Published on March 03, 2021

PR21-31

Osceola County, Florida – As part of a statewide initiative to increase outreach to minority communities, Osceola County’s first “Spoke Site” opened today (Wednesday, March 3, 2021) at the St. Cloud Civic Center. The site can provide up to 500 doses a day to area residents.

No appointment is needed but individuals still need to be in one of the qualified groups identified by the Governor’s Executive Order, including K-12 School Employees, Sworn Law Enforcement and Firefighters (50 years and older). The St. Cloud site will be open through March 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Individuals can pre-register on-line at commvax.patientportalfl.com.

The County is working with FEMA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management to utilize the Mary Jane Arrington Gym and Aquatic Center as the “Spoke Site” for next week. This site will be open March 11-13, also from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

“I’m glad that Osceola was selected to serve as a FEMA Spoke location for two months to help better increase our outreach to minority areas in the county,” said Osceola Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington. “Osceola County has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for a year now and we’ve done everything possible for residents and businesses with millions of dollars in assistance awarded. Now, making sure our residents have access to the vaccine is our top priority. I’m confident that better days are ahead for us.”

The options to receive a vaccine are increasing. In addition to private pharmacies on a state list, Osceola County’s State supported Mini-Minority Mission that is targeted to the underserved and minority population in Kissimmee continues at Chambers Park from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 7 days a week. There is no appointment needed but those seeking vaccinations must still fall in the qualified groups of the Executive Order. This site is open for a two-month period ending on April 30^th.

The Florida Department of Health in Osceola continues to operate a vaccination site at Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos Church located at 1130 Simmons Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Appointments are required for these events. Florida residents may pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination by visiting https://myvaccine.fl.gov/

For those with vaccine appointments but without transportation, LYNX has partnered to transport residents to this vaccine site for free. The Osceola County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating this service. Residents need to call 407-742-0000 between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week to schedule a ride. Please allow 48-hour notice to schedule a ride

Learn more about vaccinations at www.osceola.org/covid19vaccinations/ and testing at www.osceola.org/covid19testing/.

Other items relating to the County’s COVID-19 Response:

• While other counties have announced the reopening of housing assistance programs, Osceola County never paused. To date, more than 2,400 families have been assisted with rent or mortgage payments, totaling nearly $15 million.
• In addition, we have used approximately $224,000 to pay utility bills.
• 76 households completed the Eviction Diversion program, and our team is working with another 72 so they too can avoid evictions.
• Visit housing.osceola.org for more information on these programs.
• In support of businesses and non-profits negatively impacted by pandemic, the County has paid a total of $10.5 million in grant assistance.
• Also, with the Commercial Utility Program, we have committed more than $700,000 among four utility companies (KUA, TWA, OUC, and St. Cloud Utilities), to help nearly 600 businesses with past-due utility balances.
• If your business was negatively affected by the pandemic, visit the grant program at www.weveopenedsafely.com to find the information to get help.

Se Abre Primer "Sitio Satélite" del Condado Osceola en St. Cloud

Condado Osceola, Florida – Como parte de una iniciativa estatal para aumentar el alcance a las comunidades minoritarias, el primer "sitio satélite" del Condado Osceola abrió hoy (miércoles, 3 de marzo de 2021) en el St. Cloud Civic Center. El sitio puede proporcionar hasta 500 vacunas COVID-19 al día a los residentes del área.

No se necesita una cita, pero los individuos todavía necesitan estar en uno de los grupos elegibles por el Estado, incluyendo empleados de escuelas K-12, la fuerza del orden público y bomberos (50 años o más). El sitio de St. Cloud estará abierto hasta el viernes, 5 de marzo de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m., cada día. Los individuos pueden pre-registrarse en: commvax.patientportalfl.com.

El Condado está trabajando con FEMA y la División de Manejo de Emergencias de Florida para usar el Mary Jane Arrington Gym and Aquatic Center, en Poinciana, como el sitio satélite, la próxima semana. Este sitio se abriría del 11 al 13 de marzo, de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m., cada día.

"Me complace que Osceola haya sido seleccionado para servir como un sitio satélite de FEMA, durante dos meses, para ayudar a aumentar mejor nuestro alcance a otras áreas de minorías en el condado," dijo el presidente de la Comisión de Osceola, Brandon Arrington. “El Condado Osceola ha estado respondiendo a la pandemia de COVID-19 durante un año y hemos hecho todo lo posible por los residentes y los negocios con millones de dólares en asistencia otorgada. Ahora, asegurarnos de que nuestros residentes tengan acceso a la vacuna es nuestra principal prioridad. Estoy seguro de que nos esperan días mejores."

Las opciones para recibir una vacuna COVID-19 están aumentando. Además de las farmacias privadas en una lista estatal, “Mini-Minority Mission” en el Condado de Osceola, que está dirigida a la población minoritaria y desatendida en Kissimmee, continúa en Chambers Park de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m., los 7 días de la semana. No se necesita una cita, pero aquellos que buscan vacunas aún deben pertenecer a los grupos elegibles por el Estado. Este sitio está abierto por un período de dos meses que finaliza el 30 de abril.

El Departamento de Salud de Florida en Osceola continúa operando un sitio de vacunación en la Iglesia Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos ubicada en 1130 Simmons Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Se requieren citas en este sitio. Los residentes de Florida pueden preinscribirse para una vacuna COVID-19 visitando https://myvaccine.fl.gov/.

Para aquellos con citas para vacunas que no tengan transportación, LYNX se ha asociado para transportar a los residentes a este sitio de vacunas de forma gratuita. La Oficina de Manejo de Emergencias del Condado Osceola está coordinando este servicio. Los residentes deben llamar al 407-742-0000 entre las 9 a.m. y las 3 p.m. durante la semana para programar un viaje. Permita un aviso de 48 horas para programar un viaje.

Obtenga más información sobre las vacunas en www.osceola.org/covid19vaccinations/ y las pruebas en www.osceola.org/covid19testing/.

Otros puntos relacionados con la respuesta del COVID-19 del Condado:

• Mientras que otros condados han anunciado la reapertura de sus program