January 8, 2021
Media Contact: Robert Parker, public information officer, robert.parker@vdh.virginia.gov
LENOWISCO AND CUMBERLAND PLATEAU EXPAND VACCINATION CLINICS FOR COVID-19
(LEBANON, Va.) – The LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts continue to conduct closed “point of dispensing” (POD) COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout January, and will begin to vaccinate the first subgroups of Phase 1B essential workers priority groups. The first 1B subgroups to be vaccinated over the next two weeks will include law enforcement, firefighters and hazmat workers, corrections and homeless shelter workers, K-12 school employees and childcare providers. The districts will work closely with employers to plan and provide COVID-19 vaccine for employees in the Phase 1B subgroups. These individuals will be required to bring a personal form of identification such as a driver’s license, as well as a work I.D., in order to verify eligibility.
Vaccination planning teams are reaching out to employers in the two health districts. Phase 1B essential workers who wish to receive the vaccine or have questions should contact Michael Whiteaker (michael.whiteaker@vdh.virginia.gov) for Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the City of Norton. Or contact Delilah McFadden (delilah.long@vdh.virginia.gov) for Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell or Tazewell counties.
Vaccine supplies are somewhat limited and priority groups are designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Virginia Department of Health. VDH works to identify and vaccinate everyone who wishes to receive the vaccine, in order of the priority groups.
Additional vaccine clinics for Virginia residents who are 75 years of age and older, also included in the Phase 1B Priority groups, will be held at health department locations weekly on Wednesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting on January 13, by appointment only.
Appointments will be determined by vaccine availability. Walk-ins will be not be accepted. Personal identification showing age or date of birth, such as a Virginia Driver’s License, will be required. Individuals should arrive at their designated appointment time, and not earlier. To protect yourself and healthcare workers, please wear a cloth face covering or mask and keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and other people at all times.
Community partners and healthcare providers across the district are also finalizing plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to eligible individuals. Two partners that are ready to assist in vaccinating our communities next week include Ballad Health and Food City Pharmacy.
“Food City Pharmacy is proud to partner with the Southwest Virginia Health Districts to offer COVID-19 vaccine. We will be following state guidelines to determine patient eligibility. Eligible patients may call their local Virginia Food City Pharmacy to make an appointment for vaccination. Appointments will be determined based upon vaccine availability,” said Mickey Blazer, Executive Vice President, Food City Pharmacy Operations.
Ballad Health is assisting the Virginia Department of Health by helping to divide this population so that together, we can work to efficiently vaccinate our region’s seniors. Ballad Health will be opening two community vaccination centers – one each in Abingdon and Norton – where they will provide the vaccine to established patients of Ballad Health Medical Associates clinics who are over the age of 75. Ballad Health Medical Associates patients who might qualify are encouraged to call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic or even an urgent care center.
“We are pleased to provide a safe and effective vaccine to essential workers and residents 75 years of age and older in our community,” said Karen Shelton, M.D., interim director of the LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts.” It is important to remember that while vaccination will ultimately be the most important mitigating step in addressing the pandemic, we are not there yet. It will be months before vaccine is widely available publicly, so it is extremely important that we all continue practice the things that we know work to reduce risk. Wear a face covering, don’t gather in groups outside your household members, stay six feet away from people that do not live in your house, indoors and out, and wash your hands thoroughly and often.”
Individuals 75 years of age and older who wish to schedule an appointment for vaccination at their local health department may call:
In Cumberland Plateau Health District:
Buchanan County Health Department-276-935-4591
Dickenson County Health Department-276-926-4979
Russell County Health Department-276-889-7621
Tazewell County Health Department-276-988-5585
In LENOWISCO Health District:
Lee County Health Department-276-346-2011
Scott County Health Department-276-386-1312
Wise County Health Department-276-328-8000
For more information on COVID-19 and vaccine, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine and www.cdc.gov.
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