SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – A new mass vaccination site in Savannah is opening up next week.

The Savannah Civic Center site will operate Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting April 7.

“We had to take on additional measures to ensure that people are getting closer to these shots and that shots are getting closer to people and the Civic Center solves both issues for us,” Mayor Van Johnson said.

Johnson said the new walk-up site will be convenient for folks in town, those using city buses and those without transportation. He said while the Gulfstream site works well for residents in that area, proximity to Savannahians was a problem.

The site will distribute 1,100 Moderna shots per day, appointments are not needed, but are encouraged. Visit this link to book an appointment.

The site will serve as a walk-up vaccination site only. Hospice Savannah is the medical provider for the new site. Savannah Technical College nursing students will also get hands-on experience administering shots at the site.

Watch full press conference below:

“This is serving the greatest need,” Dr. Kathleen Benton, President & CEO of Savannah Hospice said. Benton added the site will administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Savannah’s homeless community Wednesday.

Benton said they are partnering with Union Mission to bring the homeless community to the site to break down barriers of fear or trust.

“This is how we are going to go back to life as normal, this is how we are going to get safe,” Benton said.

Congressman Buddy Carter also encouraged Savannahians to get vaccinated at the new site. Carter said he wanted to set an example as a health care professional and congressman to prove the vaccines were safe and effective, so he enrolled in the clinical trials.

“This vaccine is important,” Carter said. “Vaccines are the single most lifesaving innovation ever in the history of medicine.” He added that “Operation Warp Speed will go down as being one of the greatest medical achievements ever in the history of mankind.”

However, vaccine hesitancy still remains a problem for vaccination sites. Carter said that even though the vaccines were developed so rapidly, they remain safe.