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Health Director: Just-In-Time Vaccine Delivery Also Delivers Anxiety

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File

Local health departments have worked to get stockpiled COVID-19 vaccine off shelves and into arms.

The Roanoke City-Alleghany Health District distributed about 9,700 doses last week, according to the district’s director.

Dr. Cynthia Morrow says the district will now rely on just-in-time shipments of vaccines to keep its clinics going.  That’s expected to be about 3,150 doses per week.  "That puts us in a precarious and anxiety-provoking situation," Morrow said Tuesday, "because if there’s any delay in that just-in-time, we’re going to have to cancel a clinic."  The goal is to get down to zero unused doses by the end of each week, Morrow indicated.

Morrow said some 25,000 people eligible in the 1A or 1B categories have expressed interest in being vaccinated.  She admitted it will take some time to work through that list.

Active Cases Hold Steady, Six New School-related Outbreaks

Dr. Morrow reported 721 active COVID-19 cases in the district, as of Tuesday morning.  That’s in-line with last week’s total of 730.  Eight-one residents of the district were hospitalized, as of Tuesday morning, down from 85 last week.  Twelve additional deaths were reported over the past week.

Morrow reported 21 active outbreaks, down from 26 last week.  Most of the outbreaks are in long term care and congregate living situations.  But Morrow also reported six new school-related outbreaks since January 21st.  Four of the outbreaks are related to classroom exposures and two stem from athletic activities.  Health officials are investigating three other sports-related clusters, though they have not been classified as outbreaks at this point.

Some CVS Pharmacies to Start Vaccinations This Month

Some CVS Pharmacies in Virginia will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations this month.

The chain says 28 stores in the state will begin offering the vaccine to eligible customers on February 11th.  The 26,000 doses are coming directly from the federal government, according to a company news release.

David Seidel is Radio IQ's News Director.