Protesters Delay Coronavirus Vaccinations At Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES, CA — Hundreds of Angelenos waiting to be vaccinated for the coronavirus at Dodger Stadium Saturday were temporarily intercepted by around 50 anti-vaccine demonstrators as a group of them gathered at the entrance, authorities said.

Officials closed the gates to the site for almost an hour as a precaution, David Ortiz, a public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department told Patch.

Despite the day's interruption which did cause a delay, the mass vaccination site was expected to remain open until 8 p.m. as scheduled, Ortiz said. Ortiz confirmed that protesters did not close the vaccination site early.

"It was minimal impact," Ortiz said. "Everyone scheduled for vaccination should be getting a vaccination today."

As protesters attempted to delay and stop motorists from getting inside, LAFD officials closed the gates from 1:50 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

"We continued to vaccinate while people were outside protesting," Ortiz said. "Once the protesters left we reopened the gates and resumed operations."

Demonstrators came wielding anti-vaccination signs while others carried American flags as they marched to Dodger Stadium. The site is currently serving as the largest vaccination site in the country.

Posts circulating on Twitter showed a heavy presence from the Los Angeles Police Department but it's unknown whether any arrests were made.

"We’re at the mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium to get my mom the vaccine," Mikel Jollett, an author and frontman for the band Airborne Toxic Event tweeted Saturday from the scene. "The anti–vax protesters have approached the entrance to the site. The LAPD have now closed the gate. We have been sitting here for about half an hour. Nobody is moving."

Jollet said on Twitter his 69-year-old mother was eventually vaccinated after the gates reopened.

Dodger Stadium, which previously served as a testing site, reopened Jan. 15 as a mass vaccination center.

We’re at the mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium to get my mom the vaccine. The anti–vax protesters have approached the entrance to the site. The LAPD have now closed the gate. We have been sitting here for about half an hour. Nobody is moving. pic.twitter.com/GrJPA5wrqx
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) January 30, 2021