MLB parks open as COVID-19 vaccine sites

MLB ballparks across the country are now being used as COVID-19 vaccination sites, and it's estimated that more than 150,000 people per week are being vaccinated at these sites.

Here's the latest info on which stadiums are being used to help distribute the vaccines.

Fenway Park, Boston (Red Sox)
Fenway officially opened as a mass vaccination site on Feb. 1 after hosting a "soft launch" on Jan. 29. The historic ballpark started by serving Phase 1 priority groups and the first Phase 2 priority group (individuals ages 75-plus).

“We think this is probably [Fenway Park’s] greatest responsibility that it’s had certainly in a long, long time,” said Sarah McKenna, Red Sox senior vice president of fan services and entertainment. “And maybe in its history overall.”

CIC Health -- a Cambridge-based health tech company that is running both large-scale sites -- has a goal of eventually vaccinating 1,250 people per day at Fenway. The historic ballpark follows Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., as the state's second large-scale vaccination site, and the first in the city of Boston. The Fenway site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, and interested individuals can pre-register at cic-health.com/vaccines. For more information on the vaccine rollout and eligibility, visit www.mass.gov.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles (Dodgers)
Los Angeles has turned Dodger Stadium into one of the largest vaccination sites in the United States, with help from actor Sean Penn's nonprofit organization, CORE, and other partners.

Dodger Stadium was previously being used as a COVID-19 testing site, first opening in that capacity in May and becoming the largest coronavirus testing site in the country.

"From early on in this pandemic, Dodger Stadium has been home base for our testing infrastructure, a vital part of our effort to track the spread of COVID-19, try to get ahead of outbreaks and save lives," Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "Vaccines are the surest route to defeating this virus and charting a course to recovery, so the city, county and our entire team are putting our best resources on the field to get Angelenos vaccinated as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible."

Yankee Stadium, New York (Yankees)
Yankee Stadium opened as a mass vaccination site beginning Feb. 5. The ballpark site will be reserved for Bronx residents who meet New York's 1a and 1b vaccine eligibility requirements, and individuals who schedule appointments for Yankee Stadium are required to bring proof of residency. The site operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

Bronx residents can visit somosvaccinations.com or call 1-833-766-6769 to make an appointment.

"It's abundantly clear that Black, Latino and poor communities have been hit the hardest by COVID, and the Bronx is no exception," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "Our efforts to target vaccinations by locations with higher positivity rates have been working to not only keep the infection rate down, but to help ensure equity in our vaccine distribution process, and opening a mass vaccination site at Yankee Stadium -- the Bronx's most iconic landmark -- is the perfect solution to helping this borough get vaccinated and defeat COVID once and for all."

Petco Park, San Diego (Padres)
Petco Park's tailgate lot is now a County of San Diego Vaccination Super Station. The super station at the Padres' home began administering vaccines in January to healthcare workers in San Diego's Phase 1A category, and it now vaccinates more than 5,000 eligible San Diegans each day. The ballpark reached a huge milestone on Feb. 4, when it administered its 100,000th dose.

“The 100,000th dose administered at this one site is special because this was not only our first super station, but the first one in the state of California," said San Diego County Board of Supervisors chairman Nathan Fletcher. "Today, we have 19 sites administering vaccines and saving lives. Vaccines give us the best chance to get our lives back on track.”

The Petco Park vaccination site is operating seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT. Appointments can be made at vaccinationsuperstationsd.com.

Citi Field, New York (Mets)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Mets owner Steve Cohen announced that Citi Field will be used as one of the city's 24/7 vaccination mega-sites. It opened on Feb. 10, and is run by New York City Health + Hospitals. Eligible Queens residents can make appointments here, or call 877-VAX-4NYC.

Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (Athletics)
The A's partnered with President Joe Biden's administration, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to establish the country's first federal COVID-19 mass vaccination site. The Coliseum opened for vaccination shots on Feb. 16. BART, the city's public transportation system, is offering free rides home from the Coliseum for those who are vaccinated there.

The Coliseum was chosen in part because of its ability to distribute the vaccine to underserved communities, Newsom said.

“Equity is the call of this moment,” Newsom said. “The reason this site was chosen was the framework of making sure that communities that are often left behind are not left behind, they’re prioritized in terms of the administration of these vaccines.”

The Coliseum site is open to those who are eligible to get vaccinated under Alameda County rules, however there are no restrictions based on residence, according to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Marlins Park, Miami (Marlins)
Marlins Park began serving as a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination site on Jan. 20, and is distributing 1,000 vaccines daily. The ballpark site is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET daily, and vaccines are available by appointment only for those age 65 or older. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 1-888-499-0840.

There is no municipal residency requirement for now, which means those eligible do not need to live within city limits to be vaccinated. One just needs to show proof of Florida residency. COVID-19 testing also continues to be available at Marlins Park to individuals of all ages.

PNC Park, Pittsburgh (Pirates)
The Allegheny Health Network has now held a pair of mass vaccination events at PNC Park, with the latest serving upwards of 3,000 high-risk patients on Feb. 20. The more than 2,500 patients that received their first dose of the vaccine at PNC Park back on Feb. 6 are slated to return to the stadium for their second shot on Feb. 27.

Coors Field, Denver (Rockies)
Partnering with the governor’s office, the CDPHE, the city of Denver and the Rockies, UCHealth hosted a drive-thru vaccination clinic in the parking lot at Coors Field on Jan. 30-31.

An estimated 10,000 people received their second dose of the vaccine at Coors Field on the weekend of Feb. 20-21.

Minute Maid Park, Houston (Astros)
The city of Houston set up Minute Maid Park as a mass innoculation site on Jan. 9 and 16, vaccinating nearly 10,000 people in total.

Moderna vaccines were distributed to healthcare workers, residents ages 65 and older and patients with underlying medical conditions.

"We are grateful to the Astros Foundation for being a valued partner in the city’s COVID-19 response by providing facilities and resources for testing and vaccinations," Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. "Time and time again, Houston Astros leadership prove the organization’s commitment to our community."

At the end of January, Houston decided to put further vaccinations at Minute Maid Park on hold until the city received a greater supply of doses.

Globe Life Field, Arlington (Rangers)

The Rangers will partner with the city of Arlington to host a COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center at Globe Life Field, with an opening date set for Feb. 26. Arlington is one of four Texas cities to feature a vaccination site.

Globe Life Field will host vaccinations for four weeks before the site transitions to the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium after MLB Opening Day. The city of Arlington says that vaccinations will be offered seven days a week, and approximately 21,000 vaccines are expected to be offered weekly.

In accordance with state and federal laws, the vaccine will be distributed to those over 65 years old and those with high-risk health conditions. Those wishing to register or check eligibility for the vaccine should go to the Tarrant County Public Health website to sign up.