UF ‘Swamp’ is now mass COVID-19 vaccination site
1,100 senior citizens get vaccines in first of many events
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One of North Florida’s most recognizable stadiums has changed from filling with fans for Gator games to one of the area’s largest COVID-19 vaccination sites.
On Friday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium known popularly as “The Swamp” was being used for a COVID-19 vaccine “blitz.” Around 1,100 senior citizens were vaccinated there.
Josette Bishop had been trying for weeks to get her COVID-19 vaccine but had no luck getting an appointment. Friday, the 87 year old got her first shot at immunity.
The Gainesville Sun
The value of family meals
As a pediatrician, I encourage sit-down meals at every wellness visit. Structured meal-time has been shown to build self-esteem and communication skills, minimize toxic stress effects on the developing brain, facilitate healthy attachments with caregivers, impact the child’s perception of food and nutrition the list continues.
COVID-19 has had profound effects on structure and routine. In some households, COVID has kept families close either from the gift of being able to work from home or from the hardship of unemployment. Many families have taken advantage of this, sitting down together to share food and conversation.
Canton, 79, died Saturday from cancer in Lake Worth.
A video presentation will honor Canton from 4-6 p.m. Friday at Forest Meadows Funeral Home at 725 NW 23rd Ave., said Joi Canton, one of Canton’s daughters. A graveside service is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Forest Meadows Cemetery, 4100 NW 39th Ave.
She will be cremated and join her deceased husband, Alric Orlando Canton, in one grave so that they are always together, Joi Canton said.
Joan Canton, namesake of a playground in the SWAG area, who co-founded the organization with Dorothy Benson, Alison Law, Dr. Nancy Hardt and others, was instrumental in developing a plan to help neighborhoods along Southwest 20th and 24th avenues where residents live with disparities in education, health, income and opportunity.
The Gainesville Sun
Smooth process
We don’t see a lot of praise these days in the news, but I would like to applaud the Alachua County Health Department. My 98-year-old mother and I signed up online for the COVID vaccine on Dec. 25. We got a call on Jan. 4 and made an appointment for Jan. 8. Since I was bringing my mother, they let me get the shot, too.
Our appointment was at 10:15 at the MLK Center and we already had our paperwork completed when we arrived. We were ushered in immediately, had the shot (not more uncomfortable than a flu shot), sat with others for our 15 minute “assessment time” and were gone before 11 a.m.