COVID-19 Vaccinations are in the Spotlight As MedStar Health Partners with Arena Stage and DC Health

Columbia, MD — COVID-19 vaccines get the starring role as MedStar Health unites with Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater and DC Health to vaccinate eligible D.C. residents with the latest high capacity site.  The vaccination center located at Arena Stage in Southwest D.C. opened today and will operate Thursdays through Sundays from 8am- 5pm for the next three months.

Those eligible must make appointments through the D.C. portal, not through MedStar Health.

MedStar Health President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Samet visited the site on opening day to thank the teams who have been working ensure the vaccination process runs smoothly.  “MedStar Health is proud to partner with the District of Columbia and Arena Stage to bring easy access to life saving vaccines to District residents. Over the last year, MedStar Health has cared for the COVID and non-COVID care needs of our communities. With the opening of this vaccine distribution location at Arena Stage, we continue to expand the many locations where we bring hope for a future without COVID.”

“We’re proud to be part of the positive momentum that’s building to vaccinate as many District residents as possible against COVID-19,” said Stephen R.T. Evans, MD, executive vice president for Medical Affairs and chief medical officer for MedStar Health. “A healthcare organization uniting with the arts to benefit the community is such a perfect partnership.  The sooner we get past this pandemic the sooner people can enjoy theater again at places like Arena Stage.  Right now they have the space; we have the clinical expertise and DC Health has the doses of vaccines so we can get shots in arms.”

“Arena Stage is so happy to be asked to play this role for our community,” said Arena Stage Executive Producer Edgar Dobie. “We can promise everyone a warm and gracious greeting as these essential vaccines are administered by the talented folks at MedStar Health. All of this is made possible by the inspiring and tireless team at the District’s Department of Health.”

Providers from across the entire MedStar Health system will be giving as many as a thousand shots a day at the vaccination center.

Vaccine doses will come from allotments provided to DC Health.  "DC Health is pleased to be working with our community partners like MedStar Health to open vaccination sites that serve a high-capacity of  eligible individuals who book appointments through vaccinate.dc.gov and the District's COVID-19 call center 1-855-363-0333," said Patrick Ashley, Health and Medical Branch Director, COVID Operations and Senior Deputy Director, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration (HEPRA) at DC Health. "The District still needs more vaccine, and we will continue to advocate for additional doses so that we can save lives and meet the demand of our community," he added.

The vaccination center at Arena Stage is the only high capacity site in the Southwest area of the District.