Mall retail store vacancies are at historic highs of 10.5%. Meanwhile, vaccination sites require significant parking spaces near major transportation routes, with room for a large number of vaccinated patients to wait the required 15 minutes after treatment while under observation for allergic reactions. Colder weather makes indoor facilities ideal for this 15-minute waiting period.
Empty mall space is an ideal solution for local health departments to utilize for vaccine administration. As such, mall owners across the country have been partnering with local health departments.
Video Spotlight:
- Mega Vaccine Sites: NJ Mall, Convention Center cleared to serve as COVID-19 vaccination hubs (Dec 21, 2020, NewsNOW from Fox)
- Governor Murphy Tours Morris County Vaccine Mega-Site (Jan 8, 2021, New Jersey Office of the Governor)
- Mass vaccination sites open at stadiums across the country | WNT (Jan 11, 2021, ABC News)
This post is based on the CNN article, Vaccination megasites pop up in empty malls, by Parija Kavilanz, January 15, 2021, and the YouTube videos in the Spotlight. Francis Zera/Spaces Images/Blend Images LLC
Discussion Questions:
1. Choose a local mall that students might be familiar (or draw a typical mall layout on the Continue reading