Vaccination efforts shift but continue in eastern panhandle

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the eastern panhandle have shifted back to local health department offices following several weeks of a large drive-thru vaccination clinic at the Charles Town casino.

Berkeley and Morgan County Health Department’s Nursing Director Angie Gray said thousands of shots were given over the past five weeks.

Patrick Murphy

“The Hollywood Casinos was a gracious host. Things went very well,” Gray told the Panhandle News Network. “Approximately there were about 18,000 vaccinations given over the five weeks, running two days a week at the casino and that included prime first doses and second doses.”

Gray said the overall number may have fallen short of what the governor’s leadership team was hoping for but they made the vaccinations as accessible as possible.

“We ran late hours and made if very accessible. We vaccinated as many people as came to us,” Gray said.

The Berkeley County school district is continuing with its vaccination plan for its students.

School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy told members of the Berkeley County School Board at Monday’s meeting there’s a clinic for those students 12 and older scheduled for this Saturday.

“Right now we have 825 people signed up to get vaccinations, which is wonderful,” Murphy said. “We’re going to continue to encourage that.”

Murphy said another clinic for the 12-15 age group will likely be held after school is out for the summer.

Panhandle News Network’s Marsha Kavalek contributed to this story. 





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