© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Double-booking COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Costing Time, Says Health Director

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

As COVID-19 vaccine becomes more available at different locations, health officials are asking people to not double-book appointments.

The director of the New River Health District says at least 750 people in recent weeks made a vaccination appointment with the health district and then took an earlier appointment at another provider.

Doctor Noelle Bissell says that means lost time rescheduling appointments and moving people off waiting lists. "So please, if you have an appointment, you’re going to get your vaccine.  Keep that appointment and don’t seek a better choice or a better option that might be a week or two earlier."

Bissell said Wednesday that she does not expect the supply of vaccine to significantly increase until late March.

Cases Declining, No Sign of Spring Term Surge

In her weekly news conference with reporters, Bissell said COVID-19 cases in the New River Valley have dropped from their post-holiday highs in December and January.

There has been no sign of a new surge of college-related cases as Virginia Tech and Radford University students return for the spring semester.  Bissell said the universities are being proactive in reminding students about the need for precautions.

Some K-12 schools in the New River Valley are increasing the amount of in-person learning.  Bissell said they've seen "limited to no spread within schools."  When cases have occurred, they are often related to after school activities, car pooling or household spread.  "With appropriate mitigation in place, which is universal masking, schools have been successfully back in session all over the world," Bissell said, "and they have not been seen to be any significant transmission risk."

David Seidel is Radio IQ's News Director.