Free, Walk-In Vaccination Centers Set for May 13 and 20

  • May 06, 2021

McKenzie Nielsen, RN, prepares Tony Brallier’s arm to receive a Janssen vaccine at the free, walk-in community vaccination center held on April 29. The Brookings County PPCC will hold two more walk-in community vaccination centers on May 13 and 20 at the Swiftel Center, offering the single-dose Janssen vaccine to recipients.
McKenzie Nielsen, RN, prepares Tony Brallier’s arm to receive a Janssen vaccine at the free, walk-in community vaccination center held on April 29. The Brookings County PPCC will hold two more walk-in community vaccination centers on May 13 and 20 at the Swiftel Center, offering the single-dose Janssen vaccine to recipients.

The Brookings County Pandemic Planning and Coordination Committee (PPCC) will hold free, walk-in COVID-19 community vaccination centers, also referred to as points of dispensing (PODs), on Thursday, May 13 and Thursday, May 20. Both events will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swiftel Center in Brookings.

Single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines will be available to people age 18 and older. At the time of appointment, walk-in recipients must bring a valid ID (driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, etc.). Individuals needing transportation to the community vaccination center may schedule a free ride in advance with Brookings Area Transit Authority (BATA) by calling (605) 692-2222.

The FDA and CDC ended the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine pause on April 23. The pause was initiated due to rare reports of blood clots. As of April 21, 2021, 7.98 million vaccine doses were administered with 15 confirmed cases of the rare blood clots. Both the FDA and CDC stated they have confidence the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 and that the known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks for individuals 18 years of age and older.

Medical providers at the community vaccination center will ask potential Janssen recipients about their health history prior to receiving the vaccine to ensure it is a safe option for them. In the rare chance of an adverse event, patients should seek medical care immediately if they experience shortness of break, leg pain, headache abdominal pain or fever.

More information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines can be found at brookingshealth.org/Vaccine.

About the Brookings County Pandemic Planning & Coordination Committee

The Brookings County Pandemic Planning & Coordination Committee (PPCC) is a partnership between Brookings Health System, Brookings County Emergency Management, the City of Brookings, the Brookings County Chapter of the Red Cross, South Dakota State University, Sanford Health Brookings Clinic, Avera Medical Group Brookings and the Swiftel Center. The PPCC focuses on community preparedness and response in cases of natural disasters, infectious diseases and terrorism. More information and resources can be found at bereadybrookings.com.