https://naviga.triblive.com/sports/pirates-medical-partners-could-potentially-utilize-pnc-park-as-a-covid-19-vaccination-center/
Pirates, medical partners could 'potentially utilize' PNC Park as a covid-19 vaccination center
The Pittsburgh Pirates are meeting with medical partners at Allegheny Health Network and Highmark to “potentially utilize” PNC Park as a covid-19 vaccination center, a team spokesman confirmed Thursday.
“The ballpark can allow for mass vaccinations to be done in a safe and socially distanced manner,” team spokesman Brian Warecki said in a statement. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, the Pirates organization has done everything it can to help ensure the needs of our community are met. We will continue to do our part to ensure that, together, we will make it through.”
AHN spokesman Dan Laurent confirmed the talks, calling the Pirates “a great partner” to AHN and Highmark Health.
“Together with the county, we are in discussions about how PNC Park might be used as a vaccine distribution site once broader public access to the vaccine begins,” Laurent said in a statement. “We will share details about those plans with the community as they evolve and when appropriate.”
If PNC Park becomes a vaccination hub, the Pirates will join a growing list of professional sports franchises, including a handful of MLB teams, using their stadiums to either do covid-19 testing or distribute the covid-19 vaccine.
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles has given more than a million tests since May and is transitioning into a vaccination center. On Saturday, almost 4,000 people were given the vaccine at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Petco Park in San Diego, home to the Padres, is on board. And New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that Citi Field, home to the Mets, will soon to be able to distribute vaccination shots to as many as 7,000 vaccination a day.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., home to the NFL’s Cardinals, has used its parking lot as a 24/7 vaccination drive-thru center, and Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Dolphins, also has a drive-thru center. Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, also is serving as a vaccination center.
Staff writer Megan Guza contributed.
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