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Vaccine Distribution to Begin Again Next Week in Shelby County

Gov. Bill Lee visited Memphis December 17 as hospitals began vaccinating their frontline healthcare workers. 
Courtesy of Regional One Health
Gov. Bill Lee visited Memphis December 17 as hospitals began vaccinating their frontline healthcare workers. 

 

Gov. Bill Lee visited Memphis December 17 as hospitals began vaccinating their frontline healthcare workers. 
Credit Courtesy of Regional One Health
Gov. Bill Lee visited Memphis December 17 as hospitals began vaccinating their frontline healthcare workers. 

UPDATE: The Shelby County Health Department announced Saturday just before 5 p.m. that all appointment slots are now filled for the month of January.  Starting next Tuesday, the Shelby County Health Department will resume its COVID-19 vaccination campaign after its initial allotment was used up over two weeks.

The state expects to send almost 9,000 doses to Shelby County every week through the end of this month. In the first round, a little less than half of those are expected to be administered by the health department, with local hospital systems receiving the rest. 

Eligible residents will need to book anappointment to gettheir shot, offered Tuesday-Saturday at the Pipkin Building on the Fairgrounds in Midtown. Those without Internet access can call 901-222-SHOT beginning Monday.Those currently eligible to be vaccinated include:

·       First responders

·       Staff working at COVID-19 mass testing sites

·       Staffand residentsatlong-term care facilities,who have direct contact with residents or contact with potentially infectious materials

·       Staff at other congregate care facilitiessuch as homes for the intellectually or developmentally disabled, detention centers, among others

·       Home health care staffwith direct patient contact

·       Individuals18 years or older who cannot live independently due to serious chronic medical condition or intellectual or developmental disability

·       Providers of K-12 or university student health serviceswho have direct patient contact or contact with potentially infectious materials

·       Funeral/mortuary service providers

·       Health care workers, including: primary care providers and staff, outpatient specialty providers and staff working with acute patients, pharmacists and staff, patient transport providers, urgent visit center providers and staff, environmental services providers, oral health providers, behavioral health providers and outpatient laboratory staff working with COVID-19 specimens

·           Individuals age 75 and over

 

The health department is asking fordocumentation that demonstrates eligibility such as an ID, professional license or a letter from an employer. 

 

Copyright 2021 WKNO

Katie joined the WKNO team in 2019. She's always eager to hear your story ideas. You can email her at kriordan@wkno.org