Ford Field COVID Vaccination Site Now Open: What You Need To Know

DETROIT, MI – The mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Ford Field officially opened Wednesday, following a soft opening on Tuesday.

The new vaccination site will have the capacity to administer 6,000 shots per day — 5,000 shots on-site and 1,000 shots through a mobile vaccination location.

Officials said Ford Field was selected because it is well known to those who live and work in the area and is accessible under guidelines by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act. It also has a capacity of 10,000 and convenient access to parking and public transportation, as well as existing security and crowd control infrastructure in place.

Eligible residents can register online for an appointment through Meijer or can text "EndCovid" to 75049.

Parking is free in designated lots that will be listed on the patient's registration and are accessible through the Red A and Green G gates. The gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. Patients will have their temperature checked when they arrive and will not be permitted inside if their temperature is 100.4 or higher.

Patients will then go through a series of health screening questions and will be asked to show their insurance cards, if applicable. The vaccine is free and insurance is not required.

Translation and accessibility assistance will be provided on site.

Southern Michigan has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially communities of color in the Greater Detroit area, according to health officials. Wayne County has been hit the hardest, with 4,186 coronavirus-related deaths and 105,000 confirmed cases to date.

Detroit is home to a large number of elderly and minority communities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index, which helps emergency planners and public health officials identify communities in need. The population over 65 is 14.7 percent, the African American population is 38.9 percent, and the Hispanic population is 5.9 percent.

For more information, call the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136