Expanded vaccination efforts start this week

COVID-19 vaccination efforts are expanding in the region.

In a Monday press release, the Virginia Department of Health announced that local health districts will conduct vaccinations for people age 75 and older at large community facilities starting Jan. 13.

Clinic sites will be centrally located across the health districts and will replace the schedule of clinics previously announced at local health departments.

Appointments will be required. Individuals must call to register in advance and must qualify to receive vaccine under the approved phases — currently Phase 1a or 1b — as defined at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine. Walk-ins will 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 place, and not earlier. At the clinic, you will need to wear a cloth face covering or mask and keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and other people.

Questions? Contact the Wise County Health Department, 328-8000.

PHASE 1B

On Jan. 8, the department announced that the public health districts covering the coalfield region are among 11 districts across Virginia that will begin Phase 1b vaccinations this week. That includes frontline essential workers, people age 75 and older and people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters or migrant labor camps, according to a release.

Local health districts will be announcing more details.

The same day, another release stated that in the coalfield-region health districts, the first Phase 1b group members 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.

Phase 1b essential workers who want to be vaccinated or have questions are asked to contact:

• In Norton or Wise, Lee or Scott counties: Michael Whiteaker, Michael.whiteaker@vdh.virginia.gov.

• In Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell or Tazewell counties: Delilah McFadden, Delilah.long@vdh.virginia.gov.

For more information about Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.