
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Steelers and Giant Eagle are both Pittsburgh staples and have been longtime partners.
Starting next week, Giant Eagle Pharmacies will team up with the Steelers to utilize Heinz Field with the idea of getting the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of as many people as possible, according to Bob Labriola of Steelers.com.
"The Steelers have had a long relationship, a long partnership, with Giant Eagle going back decades now," Steelers President Art Rooney II told Labriola, "and so when Giant Eagle Pharmacy wanted to set up a vaccination site at Heinz Field we thought it was a great idea. A great opportunity to really help them serve the community, and so we're excited it's going to happen."
The vaccinations started being given out to people by Giant Eagle pharmacists at Heinz Field today, and it will run throughout the week. Rooney also said there is an expectation there will be additional days through the whole month of March for when the second vaccinations will be given.
"They need a large venue," Rooney said. "They're going to try to vaccinate thousands of people over the course of a week, and so they need a large venue to accomplish that. Obviously, ample parking is available (around Heinz Field) at this time of the year, so it really is a perfect fit for Heinz Field and Giant Eagle at this point."
It will be a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine being distributed, which requires two separate injections administered 21 days apart, there will be a follow-up appointment made to get the second injection.
"It all depends on the supply (of the vaccine) to Giant Eagle. I think it's going to go on for weeks," Rooney said on the length of time Heinz Field is to be utilized as a vaccination site and how many people will be getting vaccinated. "That's what they have in mind here, but all we've been told so far is next week Heinz Field will be scheduled for the whole week and then we expect there will be additional weeks, but we don't have those specifics yet."
Parking will be available in Gold Lot 1, and the actual vaccinations will be administered in the PNC Champions Club, according to Labriola. Vaccinations will be by appointment only, and those eligible will be able to schedule an appointment by visiting GiantEagle.com.
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