Mount Rogers Health District Moves into Phase 1b for COVID-19 Vaccination
Mount Rogers Health District Moves into Phase 1b for COVID-19 Vaccination
(Marion, Va.) – Mount Rogers Health District has been vaccinating Phase 1a health care personnel since the end of December, and has been given permission from the state to move into vaccinating Phase 1b priority populations. Phase 1a workers can still be vaccinated even as the district moves into Phase 1b. Long-term care facility residents and staff will continue to be vaccinated through federal partnerships with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
As Governor Northam announced, Phase 1b includes these frontline essential workers:
- Police, fire, hazmat
- Corrections and homeless shelter workers
- Childcare/K-12 teachers/staff
- Food and agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers
- Mail carriers (USPS and private)
Phase 1b also includes people age 75 and older, and people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and migrant labor camps. Mount Rogers is coordinating with local health systems and pharmacies to provide vaccine to these 1b populations and to Virginia residents 75 and older.
“We are so thrilled to be able to move to Phase 1b in our region,” said Karen Shelton MD, health director. “Widespread community vaccination is the best way to save lives and get us out of this pandemic. We know everyone is anxious to get their vaccine, and we ask that you please be patient. We are working as hard as we can to schedule appointments and get our community vaccinated against COVID-19.”
Vaccines are available only through closed POD (point of dispensing) clinics at this time. Eligible essential workers will be scheduled through their employers. Employers who fall into the Phase 1b category and have not spoken with the health district should call 276-781-7450 and ask to speak with the COVID-19 vaccine team.
Vaccines for Virginia residents 75 and older are available through some health care providers and pharmacies and local health department off-site clinics. Vaccination supply is still limited, but will continue to increase moving forward.
“Ballad Health is assisting the Virginia Department of Health by helping divide this population so that together, we can work to efficiently vaccinate our region’s seniors,” said Eric Deaton, Ballad Health Chief Operating Officer and Incident Commander. “Ballad Health will be opening one community vaccination center in Mount Rogers Health District in Abingdon, where we will provide the vaccine to those age 75 or older who are established patients of Ballad Health Medical Associates clinics.”
“Food City Pharmacy is proud to partner with the Southwest Virginia Health Districts to offer COVID-19 vaccine,” said Mickey Blazer, Executive Vice President, Food City Pharmacy Operations. “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.”
“We are proud to be a healthcare partner to expand the COVID-19 vaccine to the communities we serve,” said Gregory Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of Twin County Regional Healthcare. “We strongly encourage our community to get vaccinated and Twin County Regional Healthcare is pleased to be taking this next exciting step toward ending the pandemic and advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier.”
Please see below for details about scheduling appointments for Virginia residents 75 and older by locality.
- Bland County
- Bland County Pharmacy – Please call 276-688-4204 to schedule an appointment
- Bland County Health Department – Please call 276-688-3642 to schedule an appointment
- Bristol
- Ballad Health – Ballad Health Medical Associates patients should call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic, or urgent care center.
- Food City – Please call 276-645-0044 (Euclid Avenue) or 276-669-2388 (Bonham Road) to schedule an appointment
- Bristol City Health Department – Please call 276-642-7335 to schedule an appointment
- Carroll County
- Twin County Regional Hospital - Tuesday (1/12), Wednesday (1/13), and Thursday (1/14): 7am – 11am and Tuesday (1/19), Wednesday (1/20), and Thursday (1/21): 8:30am – 12noon
Vaccines will be administered on-site at the main hospital at 200 Hospital Drive, Galax at the Outpatient Ground Level Entrance (to the right of the building) – at the north end. Signage will direct cars to the proper area. These will not be scheduled appointments, but instead will be walk-in.
- Carroll County Health Department – Please call 276-730-3180 to schedule an appointment
- Galax
- Twin County Regional Hospital - Tuesday (1/12), Wednesday (1/13), and Thursday (1/14): 7am – 11am and Tuesday (1/19), Wednesday (1/20), and Thursday (1/21): 8:30am – 12noon
Vaccines will be administered on-site at the main hospital at 200 Hospital Drive, Galax at the Outpatient Ground Level Entrance (to the right of the building) – at the north end. Signage will direct cars to the proper area. These will not be scheduled appointments, but instead will be walk-in.
- Food City – Please call 276-238-0684 to schedule an appointment
- Galax Health Department – Please call 276-236-6127 to schedule an appointment
- Grayson County
- Twin County Regional Hospital - Tuesday (1/12), Wednesday (1/13), and Thursday (1/14): 7am – 11am and Tuesday (1/19), Wednesday (1/20), and Thursday (1/21): 8:30am – 12noon
Vaccines will be administered on-site at the main hospital at 200 Hospital Drive, Galax at the Outpatient Ground Level Entrance (to the right of the building) – at the north end. Signage will direct cars to the proper area. These will not be scheduled appointments, but instead will be walk-in.
- Ballad Health – Ballad Health Medical Associates patients should call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic, or urgent care center.
- Food City - Please call 276-773-2751 to schedule an appointment
- Grayson County Health Department – Please call 276-773-2961 to schedule an appointment
- Smyth County
- Ballad Health – Ballad Health Medical Associates patients should call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic, or urgent care center.
- Food City - Please call 276-783-5761 to schedule an appointment
- Smyth County Health Department – Please call 276-781-7460 to schedule an appointment
- Washington County
- Ballad Health – Ballad Health Medical Associates patients should call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic, or urgent care center.
- Food City – Please call 276-628-2580 to schedule an appointment
- Michael’s Pharmacy – Please call 276-676-2900 to schedule an appointment
- Falcon Pharmacy – Please call 276-258-5251 to schedule an appointment
- Pharmhealth Express Pharmacy & Wellness – Please call 273-739-7748, ext. 4 to schedule an appointment
- Washington County Health Department – Please call 276-676-5604 or 276-696-0110 to schedule an appointment
- Wythe County
- Ballad Health – Ballad Health Medical Associates patients should call their physician’s office directly. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic, or urgent care center.
- Wythe County Health Department – Please call 276-228-5507 to schedule an appointment
Those with specific medical concerns or conditions should discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with their provider. The vaccine is not contraindicated for those who are planning to become pregnant, pregnant, or breastfeeding, but those with concerns are encouraged to discuss the vaccine with their health care provider prior to their vaccine appointment.
Those who are isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 or who have another illness with a fever are not eligible for vaccine until these conditions are resolved. Those who have had COVID-19 and received monoclonal antibodies or plasma treatment not eligible to receive vaccine until 90 days after treatment.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine. For details on COVID-19 vaccination in Mount Rogers Health District, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mount-rogers/.
# # #