El Paso’s fire chief says city is getting creative in efforts to get more people vaccinated against Covid
EL PASO, Texas -- A recent reported decrease in demand for Covid-19 vaccines among residents in El Paso has city and county leaders trying to get creative.
“As part of the whole plan, you knew we were going to get to this point,” El Paso Fire Chief Mario D’Agostino said in an interview Wednesday.
In an attempt to help put more shots in arms, as ABC-7 first reported on Tuesday, the El Paso Convention Center as of Wednesday no longer requires an appointment to get the vaccine. Instead you can walk up, register and get vaccinated.
Manuel Murillo and his mom were two of the people that took advantage of the new no appointment required rule on Wednesday.
“It’s a great opportunity to come in and get the vaccine,” Murillo said.
Miguel Vaca was another one who made the most of the new setup.
“I don’t have the time to do the appointment and I don’t have an address right here in El Paso,” Vaca said. “I live with my Mom in Juarez and she’s an older person and that’s why I came this day.”
Vaca told ABC-7 he came across the border just to get vaccinated.
The Convention Center is now open 6 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Now we’re going back to almost a grassroots effort to get vaccines out,” D’Agostino explained. “That’s what we’re looking at, how do we capture those who haven’t had the ability to get one or it just hasn’t been convenient.”
The chief told ABC-7 the city will also be introducing "pop-up" vaccination events to try and make it more convenient for El Pasoans to get vaccinated.
These upcoming dates, times and locations are:
- Thursday, April 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at El Paso International Airport, 6701 Convair
- Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Beast Urban Park, 13501 Jason Crandall
- Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at El Paso Artists and Farmers Market, 117 Anthony
- Saturday, May 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Valle Bajo Recreation Center, 7380 Alameda
