COVID vaccine clinics set locally

Published 6:06 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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Two local health departments have scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week in the Roanoke-Chowan area.

The Northampton County Health Department has rescheduled its vaccine clinic to 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the W.S. Creecy School Gym, 210 Roberts Road, Rich Square. This clinic was postponed on Feb. 20 due to inclement weather.

This vaccination clinic is designed to provide equitable access to historically marginalized populations in Northampton County. If you are 65 and older, call 252-534-1668 or 252-534-1303 ext. 2 to schedule an appointment.

Joined by its community partners, Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS) is offering drive-thru clinics (first doses and second doses of the Moderna vaccine) this week in Bertie, Hertford, and Gates counties. Vaccine clinics will have set hours and set vaccine doses available, and will be provided on a first come, first served basis as follows:

Bertie County (second dose only!!): Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. at Bertie High School, located at 715 US Hwy 13 North, Windsor. NOTE: This clinic is open to individuals who received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on or before Jan. 27. Please plan to attend the clinic in the county where you received your first dose. You will need to bring the vaccine card you received with your first dose with you to this clinic. If you do not have your card, you may experience additional delays, or may be turned away and rescheduled because we have to verify your first dose for your safety.

Hertford County (first dose only!!): Thursday, Feb. 25 from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. at the Ahoskie Creek Amphitheater, located at 125 Edgewood Drive, Ahoskie;

Gates County (first dose only!!): Thursday, Feb. 25 from 9-11:30 a.m. (or until supplies depleted) at the Gates County Health Department, located at 29 Medical Center Road, Gates; and

Bertie County (first dose only!!): Thursday, Feb. 25 from 9-11:30 a.m. (or until supplies depleted) at Bertie High School.

A third group of individuals are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Group 3 frontline workers have been added to the eligibility list.

Because vaccine supply continues to be limited and the Group 3 population of frontline essential workers is so large, the state needs to move to this group gradually. Those working in child care and schools, such as teachers, bus and van drivers, custodial and maintenance staff, and food service workers, will be eligible first. This includes staff in child care centers and homes, Head Start Programs, Preschool and PreK programs, traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools.

Those in the first two eligibility groups – healthcare workers and individuals ages 65 and over – can also continue to receive their vaccinations.

“We are asking that only individuals who live in the ARHS region and meet one of these priority groups attend first dose clinics,” said R. Battle Betts Jr., ARHS Health Director. “Individuals who do not meet this requirement will be asked to leave and instructed to contact their local health department for vaccine information. Please help us meet the needs of our community by adhering to this guidance and supporting our public health and public safety workforce as they work to vaccinate our communities.”

ARHS officials remind residents within the eight-county region they serve that if you received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with another provider such as Walgreens or CVS, you will need to return to that same facility for your second dose.

“If you received your first dose at one of our clinics, regardless of residence status, you will be able to receive your second dose as long as you have your vaccine card with you,” Betts said.

About Cal Bryant

Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.

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