Legion Field To Become COVID-19 Vaccination Location: Park Board

BIRMINGHAM, AL — With Jefferson County residents anxious to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the City of Birmingham has taken steps to make the vaccine more available to residents, as the Birmingham Park Board voted Wednesday to make historic Legion Field a vaccine location.

A statement from Birmingham City Council President William Parker said Legion Field would be open 24 hours a day for vaccine distribution, and will also work with the Birmingham Park Board to open community centers and the Botanical Gardens as vaccine clinics.

"We want to make sure Legion Field remains on the front line of this fight. The trend around the country is to utilize large stadiums for vaccine distribution," Parker said. "In addition to that, we want to make sure all of Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods have access to vaccine clinics as we continue working with our federal partners to secure as many doses as possible."

In a statement to ABC 33/40 last week, Parker outlined his plan for Legion Field.

"We are currently experiencing a massive spike in the number of cases," Parker said. "We have to take bold and swift action to not only make testing sites more accessible for residents, but also to distribute vaccines as quickly and as efficiently as possible. I believe Legion Field is the perfect location to accomplish these goals. This is going to require city, county, state and federal funding through the CARES Act, and we will be working with our partners to secure that funding."