While the city of Irvine has not yet established a SuperPOD for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the city has also not been silent about its ability to take on the responsibility.

In an email with Irvine Weekly, Irvine City Manager Marianna Marysheva said, even with the low supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the city is still exploring options for a SuperPOD – even if it happens to be without the county’s involvement.

Marysheva explained that while there is no official date or location for a SuperPOD in Irvine, the city expects that to change once the supply of vaccine increases.

“We continue an ongoing dialogue with the county regarding a vaccination site at the Great Park. With the supply of vaccines still not plentiful, adding another site within Orange County is simply not practical at this time,” Marysheva explained. “However, we anticipate that with the supply increasing soon, there will be a need to provide a SuperPOD site in Irvine, and we stand ready to make this happen.”

In January, the Irvine City Council was set to vote on a license agreement authorizing the use of Hangar 244 as Orange County’s third [at the time] SuperPOD. However, the license agreement was pulled from the council agenda prior to the Jan. 26 City Council meeting at the request of County Executive Officer Frank Kim.

While Irvine continues to prepare for the arrival of more vaccines, Marysheva explained that the city is diligently vaccinating the most vulnerable senior citizens in Irvine. Marysheva added that even in the event that the county does not establish a SuperPOD within the city, there is a possibility of a non-county SuperPOD in Irvine.

“In the meantime, we continue our partnerships with various hospitals, through Mayor Khan’s COVID task force, to provide vaccinations at the Lakeview Senior Center, and are finalizing arrangements to open a non-county site at the Great Park and/or the City Hall,” she said. 

While Marysheva did not have details Wednesday, April 14, she expected to be able to share more specifics on a potential non-county SuperPOD in Irvine, as more become available.

On Tuesday, April 13, the Orange County Health Agency issued a statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control recommended a pause on production, “out of an abundance of caution,” after half a dozen individuals reacted with a “rare and severe blood clot type.”

In Orange County, more than 27,000 doses of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine had been administered between March 8 and April 12.

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