News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland residents 75 years of age or older can soon begin calling their local health department to reserve a COVID vaccine.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said many counties will be ready over the next several days to move beyond medical workers and front-line emergency workers. All of the Upper Cumberland health departments are still vaccinating these front line workers and healthcare employees according to the State Health Department.
Schedules and availability will vary by counties, Piercey said, as the numbers of people being vaccinated and the doses shipped varies. Both vaccines now in place have limited shelf lives.
Residents should call ahead for an appointment to make sure the health department has vaccine in stock. The local health departments will run a full-day of service vaccinating people Saturday 8:30am-4pm. Health departments in most areas will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Piercey said K-12 teachers and day care workers will be the next group to be vaccinated. Piercey said as local departments begin getting through those 75 years of age or older, they will invite teachers.
The state received 20,000 vaccines Tuesday, but has seen a delay in federal deliveries over the past week. Piercey said only 50 health departments received shipments last week for Saturday clinics in part because of a Michigan snowstorm.
Piercey said Tennessee has been a leader in getting vaccines in arms, but the delays on the federal level have been an issue. Some 90,000 of 175,000 doses delivered to the state have been used. An additional 49,000 vaccinations are available for Walgreen’s and CVS to vaccinate long-term care residents through a federal contract. Those doses are separate.
Some home health care workers have questioned where they fit among the phases of vaccination. Piercey said these workers should be vaccinated immediately.
Health departments are the only source for public vaccinations currently.
