BRHD Update on Vaccines for 5-11 Year Olds |
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On Wednesday, October 27, BRHD hosted a live virtual town hall about COVID-19 booster shots and plans for vaccinating 5-11 year olds. You can watch a recording of the town hall here and read last week’s newsletter about booster vaccines here.
COVID-19 Vaccines for 5-11 Year Olds:
BRHD expects to begin offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to 5-11 year olds in the first week of November. The FDA has approved the Emergency Use Authorization for COVID vaccines for this age group and we anticipate the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC to follow suit next week.
We estimate BRHD to begin vaccinating ages 5-11 on November 6th. Due to a limited supply, our rollout will be slower for the first three weeks of vaccination. There will be plenty of vaccines available for ages 5-11 after the first three weeks, however we will prioritize the most vulnerable populations as vaccinations begin.
Where and How 5-11 Year Olds Can Get Vaccinated:
We will be focusing on three main avenues for vaccinating children: pediatric and family-practice clinics, school drive-thru clinics, and clinics in neighborhoods identified as housing-marginalized. The neighborhoods we plan to visit with the mobile vaccination unit have been specifically selected due to lower rates of vaccination, as well as other factors such as low-income housing, large refugee populations, and/or communities of color. For the first wave of vaccinating, we will prioritize children at higher risk of poor health outcomes and/or hospitalization from COVID-19. This includes medical or environmental conditions considered as higher risk as a result of congregate housing, families with multiple front-line workers, and living with immunocompromised relatives.
BRHD community members with children ages 5-11 can help us determine when and where we should vaccinate by filling out this survey before November 4th. This survey lists multiple locations throughout the District and all responses remain anonymous.
The Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at Seminole Square in Charlottesville will also be offering limited appointments for 5-11 year old vaccinations. For all sites offering vaccines to ages 5-11, children must have an appointment and be accompanied by a consenting adult; walk-ins will not be accepted due to our limited quantity of vaccines.
All appointments for 5-11 year olds can be made on our virtual scheduling system, VASE (search 22901 for the CVC). This registration link will open on November 4 and the first appointment available at the CVC will be November 6. If you have questions about our plans for vaccinating 5-11 year olds, email us at BRHealthDistrict@gmail.com or call our COVID-19 Hotline at 434-972-6261 (open M-F 8am-4:30pm).
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New Hours at BRHD COVID Test Sites |
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As the sun is setting earlier, some testing sites in BRHD are shifting hours to provide testing in lighter conditions. Beginning Monday, November 1, all BRHD test sites at local health departments and at JCPenney on Fridays will run 4:30-6:30pm. While registration is not required for these test sites, online registration is available to make the onsite experience faster.
Next Molecular's testing site at JCPenney on Wednesdays and Thursdays runs 2:00-6:00pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but individuals may register in advance by calling the BRHD hotline the two business days prior: 434-972-6261.
UVA continues to offer testing on Mondays at Church of the Incarnation from 6:00-7:30pm and Tuesdays at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church from 5:30-7:00pm.
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Drive-Thru Flu Clinic: Saturday, November 6 |
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BRHD is hosting a free drive-through flu vaccine clinic on Saturday, November 6 from 2:00-5:00 PM at Charlottesville High School (1400 Melbourne Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901). We will have 350 flu vaccines available on a first come, first served basis. No appointment is needed and flu shots are available for anyone ages 2 years and older.
Unable to make this clinic, but still need your flu shot? Visit the BRHD website for more resources.
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VDH COVID Dashboards: Children's Cases |
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The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has added a COVID-19 in Virginia: Cases Among Children dashboard to display COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths for children aged 0 to 17 years. The dashboard is being added because of the increase in COVID-19 cases among children across the state since the end of the summer.
VDH will report case counts, rate and the percentage of all cases among children by week and by pediatric age group for children under 18 years of age. The dashboard will display data by region and health district and will contain four age groups: 0-4, 5-11, 12-15, and 16-17 years. The VDH regions are Central, Eastern, Southwest, Northern and Northwest.
Find all the details on this dashboard, as well as all other COVID data on the VDH website. For local data, you may also visit the BRHD website.
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BRHD Closed for Election Day |
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All BRHD offices and test sites will be closed on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 in observance of Election Day.
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Each week, we introduce you to one of our Health District Heroes so you can get to know the people working to keep you safe and healthy every day. This week, meet Cassidy Moore, Mobile Homebound COVID Vaccine Liaison.
How long have you worked at BRHD?
Since January of 2021
What is your job?
I work with the Homebound Vaccine Program. I speak with individuals who are interested in receiving a COVID vaccine, but aren't able to make it to a vaccination site in person. Then, I help organize the rest of the Homebound team to get folks vaccinated right at home!
Who are you outside of BRHD?
Outside of work you can find me walking my dog, Butterball, or scoping out the farmers market for some great local produce. I also love trying all of the great wineries that the area has to offer!
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Remember, vaccination is only one tool to end the pandemic.
We need to use them all in order to return to normal day-to-day activities.
Continue to wear face masks, maintain physical distance, wash hands frequently and properly, and limit indoor social gatherings.
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