July 10, 2021
Media Contact: Larry Hill, Eastern Region Public Information Officer, Larry.Hill@vdh.virginia.gov
WESTERN TIDEWATER HEALTH DISTRICT HOSTS COMMUNITY INFORMATION TEAM TO PROMOTE COVID-19 VACCINES
(Suffolk, Va.) — The Virginia Department of Health’s Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD), in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), has announced that the health district and localities will be hosting a Community Information Team starting July 9, 2021. The team’s mission is to support COVID-19 vaccine outreach efforts throughout the health district.
Outreach will include door-to-door canvassing in residential neighborhoods and at local businesses in Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk. The Community Information Team will provide health education, information about upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics and registration opportunities for specific clinics.
WTHD continues to work with local healthcare partners to provide walk-in vaccination clinics throughout the district. Appointments are also available. The Community Information Team, whose members will wear branded vests, will assist anyone who wishes to make a vaccine appointment.
“WTHD is excited to collaborate with VDEM and FEMA to increase access to information about the COVID-19 vaccine in our communities,” said Dr. Todd Wagner, D.O., Director, Western Tidewater Health District. “While we have come far in our vaccine rollout, we are in the final stretch where every vaccination counts. The Community Information Team is one strategy of many we are implementing to reach our goal of 70 percent of adults vaccinated against COVID-19.” Currently, 47.1% of the adult population in the Western Tidewater Health district has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“FEMA Region 3 is excited to be a part of Virginia’s tremendous effort to get their citizens vaccinated,” said Kevin Snyder, Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA Region 3. “Over the past six months we have worked to support VDEM and VDH’s vaccination mission in a variety of ways, including more than $250 million in grant funding for vaccine projects across the Commonwealth and helping to run a Community Vaccination Center in Norfolk. Supporting WTHD’s canvassing efforts is a natural extension of this ongoing partnership with VDH and VDEM and we are eager to support the WTHD.”
WTHD encourages all eligible persons to get their COVID-19 vaccine if they haven’t already done so. To find a vaccination site near you, please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or vaccinefinder.org. Learn more about the vaccine, its safety and answers to frequently asked questions at VDH’s website and CDC’s website.
# # #