Anti-vax protesters force Dodgers Stadium mass COVID-19 vaccination site to shut down

A mass COVID-19 vaccination site at LA‘s Dodgers Stadium was forced to temporarily shut down Saturday after dozens of anti-vaxxers descended on the venue entrance and disrupted the long line of drivers waiting to get their dose. 

About 50 protesters, including members of anti-vaccine and far-right groups, turned up outside the drive-thru center around noon toting picket signs decrying the vaccine and shouting for people not to get the shots, the Los Angeles Times reported.   

The demonstration prompted officials to shut the entrance around 2pm as precaution, stalling hundreds of motorists who had been waiting in line for hours.

About 50 protesters, including members of anti-vaccine and far-right groups, gathered outside the COVID-19 vaccination site at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, disrupting the long line of drivers waiting to get their dose

Drivers with a vaccine appointment enter a mega COVID-19 vaccination site set up in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Saturday

One man who drove from his home in La Verne for his vaccination and had been waiting for an hour for his vaccination when the stadium’s gates were closed, said the activists were telling virus is fake and that vaccines are dangerous.   

‘This is completely wrong,’ German Jaquez told the Times. ‘I’ve been waiting for weeks to get an appointment. I am a dentist; I am taking a big risk being around patients. I want to be safe for my patients and for my family. The vaccine is the only way to beat the virus.’  

The LAPD released a statement confirming the site had been closed by the Los Angeles Fire Department, not the police, and said no incidents of violence were reported. 

‘We are aware of social media posts referring to protestors showing up at the Dodger Stadium COVID-19 vaccination site. Preliminary reports are that protestors remained peaceful. The LAPD did NOT close the gates, and per LA City Fire, all scheduled vaccines will be delivered,’ police said on Twitter. 

An official said the fire department planned to reopen the vaccination site about 3pm. The site is usually open from 8am to 8pm.

A post on social media described the demonstration as the ‘SCAMDEMIC PROTEST/MARCH.’ 

It advised participants to ‘please refrain from wearing Trump/MAGA attire as we want our statement to resonate with the sheeple. No flags but informational signs only.

‘This is a sharing information protest and march against everything COVID, Vaccine, PCR Tests, Lockdowns, Masks, Fauci, Gates, Newsom, China, digital tracking, etc.’

An official said the fire department planned to reopen the vaccination site about 3pm. The site is usually open from 8am to 8pm