CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As 2020 closed, health officials across West Virginia were implementing different distribution plans for coronavirus vaccinations being made available specifically for people over the age of 80 as part of the larger, ongoing state vaccination plan.
Governor Jim Justice announced the expansion on Wednesday at the State Capitol.
Soon after that, a vaccination clinic for Thursday afternoon was announced for Fayette County.
“We know that the 80+ members of our population are the highest risk to have adverse events from COVID-19 infection and we want to keep you safe and protected,” said Dr. Anita Stewart, Fayette County health officer, during a Facebook Live event.
The Fayette County clinic was scheduled to run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Fayette County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building in Fayetteville on a first-come, first-served basis.
To start, Dr. Stewart said Fayette County was allocated 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine, initial shots, to provide to residents.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses spaced out by several weeks.
Across West Virginia, limited quantities of initial vaccine doses were available ahead of the start of 2021.
Along with health departments, doses were sent, beginning Wednesday, to 82 federally-qualified health centers. For patients at those locations meeting the 80+ threshold, center officials were to be contacting patients directly about COVID-19 vaccine access.
Some examples of federally-qualified health centers includes Change, Inc., Community Care of West Virginia, FamilyCare HealthCenter, New River Health and Valley Health Care.
Additionally, vaccination clinics were being planned for National Guard armory sites.
A schedule had not been released as of Thursday morning.
The latest updated information was available on the COVID-19 website for the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
At the same time, vaccinations were going to continue, when supplies allowed, at local health departments.
Identification was required at all vaccination sites.
In Greenbrier County, the West Virginia Building at the State Fair of West Virginia was open for vaccinations for county residents over the age of 80 beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.
Vaccinations were scheduled to start in Summers County on Saturday, Jan. 2, during a clinic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as long as supplies lasted, at the Hinton Freight Depot.
In Kanawha County, people lined up for the 80+ vaccinations beginning Wednesday at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department.
By Wednesday night, officials there said all appointments for vaccinations planned on Thursday, utilizing their available doses for the oldest West Virginians, had been filled.
The Cabell-Huntington Health Department was closed on Thursday and Friday.
Those over the age of 80 in Cabell County were being told to call the Cabell-Huntington Health Department COVID-19 Call Center beginning on Monday to schedule vaccination appointments. The phone number for Cabell County residents was 304-526-3383.
On Monday, the Nazarene Camp in Nicholas County was going to open with a limited supply of vaccines at 10 a.m.
Also Monday, the Monongalia County Health Department had a vaccination event with 100 doses available planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Virginia Army National Guard Readiness Center in Morgantown.
It was not clear on Thursday how quickly vaccine supplies designated for people over the age of 80 in West Virginia would be replenished.
“Patience is urged while the West Virginia National Guard’s Joint Interagency Task Force finalizes plans for the widespread distribution of vaccines for West Virginians in this age category,” read a statement from Governor Jim Justice’s Office.
Vaccine doses have been arriving weekly in West Virginia since mid-December.
When available, “We want to get these vaccines in your arms and keep you safe and protected so you can be here to see your birthday next year,” said Dr. Stewart in Fayette County.