One year after the cancellation of the girls’ basketball tournament on March 5, 2020, the Summers County Health Department is still proceeding full speed to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Last week’s two days of vaccine clinics at the Freight Depot inoculated nearly 500 Summers residents with the first round of shots, and next week RN Amy Lilly Justice and Health Department Administrator Chad Meador expect to continue inoculations Wednesday armed with 284 doses, and Thursday with another 340 doses at clinics at the depot.
Meador said the process is moving much quicker, around 10 shots per hour (sph) quicker, for a max of around 60-66 sph. When you consider what Justice recalls as the starting speed, the team has made tremendous gains in rapidity.
“We probably started out doing 36 per hour just to see how things flowed, so we’ve about doubled that now. I think we have pretty much reached our limit for how many we can do with the size of the Freight Depot and parking lot there.”
These speeds have, indeed, created lulls on any given day and, from time to time, an empty parking lot.
Pre-registrations are still required to receive vaccinations, and everyone is reminded to call 1-833-734-0965 or go online at Vaccinate.WV.Gov to get on the list for an appointment.
Those now eligible to receive vaccinations are 50-year-olds and older, all education workers in the state and those aged 16 and older with any of these medical conditions: down syndrome, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caretakers, caretakers of those with congenital or acquired disease, organ or bone marrow transplant, obesity, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and pregnancy.
Justice shared, “It has been a long year! It takes up a lot of time doing these vaccine clinics cause we spend so much time scheduling for them, coordinating volunteers, picking up the vaccine, and preparing for the clinic, but it is great to feel like there’s hope for things getting back to normal, and after the deaths we’ve had in our community and knowing people who have been really sick or have lasting effects from the virus, I think everyone is just grateful to be a part of helping our community be safer and help things get back to normal. We’re so grateful for the many dedicated volunteers we have, and the support from the community we’ve received.”
The pandemic’s wrath has been tamed — to a degree — and threats of spreading the virus have had an impact on slowing down the numbers. Masks and social distancing are still being required inside buildings, but the governor relaxed many COVID-19 restrictions heading into last weekend.
At a Friday briefing, Gov. Jim Justice let it be known that decreasing numbers of cases and hospitalizations are allowing 100% capacity at fitness centers, gyms, museums, bars, restaurants, retail and small businesses. Justice also said West Virginia is lifting most restrictions on all youth sports, while also asking people to use common sense and mask-wearing unless eating or drinking.
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