January 8, 2021
Media Contact: Caitlin Hodge, Caitlin.Hodge@vdh.virginia.gov
Chickahominy Health District Partners with Randolph-Macon College to Vaccinate Front Line Health Care Workers Against COVID-19
(Ashland, VA) — The Chickahominy Health District began conducting closed “point of dispensing” (POD) COVID-19 vaccination clinics specifically for “Phase 1a” priority groups. Phase 1a is the first group eligible to receive the vaccine and includes health care workers with direct contact or a high risk of contact with COVID-positive patients. Phase 1a includes emergency medical services and other health care personnel such as medical providers, dentists, behavioral health providers, pharmacists, social workers, and others who provide direct health services in various settings.
In partnership with Randolph-Macon College (R-MC), the health district began vaccinating on January 8, 2021, on its campus in Ashland, VA, with additional dates and times being scheduled weekly moving forward. These PODs are specifically for Phase 1a; COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available to the general public. At this time, only those eligible will be provided appointments through the health district for the vaccine during this phase. (Note: R-MC students, faculty and staff will be vaccinated later, during their appropriate phase).
Phase 1a also includes long-term care residents and staff, who are being vaccinated through a federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens.
“We are thrilled to provide a safe and effective vaccine to health workers in our community,” said the Chickahominy Health District Director, Dr. Tom Franck. “With the New Year comes new hope and a new tool in our fight against COVID-19 that is going to help us save lives. It is a remarkable feat that we now have these vaccines that have been shown to be 95% effective at preventing COVID-19, and that fact gives me tremendous optimism. I am truly amazed and encouraged by the innovation and teamwork that has gone into creating, manufacturing, distributing, and administering these vaccines. Our vaccine campaign has begun and, while we need to prioritize the frontline healthcare workers and long-term care residents who are most critical and most at risk, more vaccine is being shipped each week. There promises to be sufficient vaccine in the coming weeks and months to be able to vaccinate other priority groups and eventually the entire population.”
“At a time when community partnerships are more important than ever, Randolph-Macon College is pleased to assist the Virginia Department of Health with providing a location and support services for this critical initiative,” says Grant Azdell, Vice President for Student Affairs and Coordinator of the R-MC Emergency Response Team.
Vaccination planning teams are reaching out to health care personnel in the health district, which includes the counties of Charles City, Goochland, Hanover and New Kent. Members of Phase 1a who wish to receive the vaccine should email the district at CHDVaccine@vdh.virginia.gov.
You can learn more about the vaccine, its safety and answers to frequently asked questions at VDH’s website and CDC’s website.
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