As we move ahead toward what appears to be an on-time start to the 2021 Major League Baseball season, operations continue to be intertwined with the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, at least four MLB ballparks are going to serve as mass COVID vaccination sites and more will likely be added to the list.
Monday, California governor Gavin Newsom announced that the homes of the Padres and Dodgers would serve as sites.
NEW: CA will be opening mass vaccination sites this week including Dodgers Stadium, Padres Stadium, and CalExpo.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 11, 2021
Our goal continues to be fast, equitable, and safe vaccinations statewide.
OK, so that's Dodger Stadium (singular!) and Petco Park, but we got the point. Petco Park actually opened as a vaccine center on Monday and is open 12 hours a day, seven days a week (more details here). Dodger Stadium will begin with the vaccines on Friday. It has previously been a testing center, so the transition should be smooth.
On the other side of the country, the Mets are using Citi Field as a round-the-clock site.
New Yorkers are AMAZIN’ and we’re proud to help keep them safe. As of January 25, #CitiField will become one of the largest #COVID19 vaccine sites in the city, working 24/7 to serve as many as 7K New Yorkers a week. #NYCVaccineForAll https://t.co/HCvN1zY2e2 pic.twitter.com/3lSIoXB4e7
— Citi Field (@CitiField) January 12, 2021
As can be seen, it'll take the transformation of Citi Field a bit longer, but the big news there is that it'll be open 24/7. Elsewhere in the Big Apple, the Yankees will also open Yankee Stadium as a vaccination site, per NJ.com.
This might just be the beginning of large venues across the country serving as vaccine distribution centers.
