DALLAS —After six months, the mass vaccination site at Fair Park closed up shop. Between the decrease in demand and preparation for the return of the State Fair of Texas, county officials decided to shut it down. But despite the closure, residents in South Dallas and surrounding areas still have multiple options to get the COVID-19 vaccine.


What You Need To Know

  • Fair Park's mass vaccination site closed on July 17 due to a decrease in demand and preparation for the State Fair of Texas

  • Dallas County officials report an upward trend in COVID-19 cases and expect it to increase based on models

  • To find a COVID-19 site in Dallas County, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/

“I am so proud of every person who was a part of the Fair Park vaccine site,” wrote Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins via Twitter. “I am honored to be your teammate. When things were bad, you pressed on. Every day you worked to make the site better. You knew it’s not where you start; it’s where you finish.”

Jenkins went on to praise the staff, volunteers and even acknowledged the doubters. When it first opened back in January, the mass vaccination site received a lot of criticism from residents and officials alike. But over the course of its run, at least 500,000 residents were able to get either the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson vaccine at the site.

“Egos low, heads high — while outsiders and naysayers saw the battle, you saw the victory and in the end you did so much more than administer 500K shots,” Jenkins wrote. “You gave hope to so many people — more than just those who got their shot at Fair Park.”

Those still looking to get the vaccine can do so at many locations, and most do not require an appointment, according to officials. Now, the plan is to continue neighborhood pop-up locations to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. And as cases continue to trend upward, Jenkins hasn’t stopped encouraging those who have yet to receive the shot to do so and soon.

“In addition to increasing daily cases, our hospitalizations have doubled in July,” Jenkins wrote on Monday. “The slope of our upward trend is concerning and is more dramatic in the past week with increased hospital admissions, patients hospitalized and an increased percentage of cases in the ICU. The models continue to predict increase as well.”

Even though the drive-thru site has closed, Jenkins said the county will still have pop-up clinics at the former mass vaccination site. The next pop-up clinic is slated for July 24 and July 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Pfizer vaccine only. And Jenkins isn’t the only elected official urging people to get the vaccine as variants emerge throughout the state.

“Get vaccinated,” wrote Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson on Twitter. “It’s safe. It’s effective. It has never been easier. And it’s free. No insurance required.”

On Tuesday, the county reported 870 new COVID-19 cases, along with five more deaths. The number accounts for a three-day total beginning on Saturday and ending on Monday. In comparison, last week’s three-day total was 626 cases. The week prior, which included Fourth of July weekend and an additional day, only had 319 cases, according to Jenkins. Rep. Collin Allred echoed Jenkins' and Johnson’s sentiment about the importance of getting vaccinated after learning of the uptick in cases in North Texas.

“Judge Clay Jenkins is right, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you and your loved ones as COVID-19 cases rise again,” Allred wrote on Twitter. “Together, we will work to keep our communities safe and healthy.”

For a complete list of vaccine locations in North Texas and around the state, visit: https://www.vaccines.gov/.