News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Health Department will begin vaccinating seniors 75 years of age and older against COVID Saturday.
Residents can make an appointment now online at the Putnam CountyTN.Gov website. On Saturday, vaccinations will be provided in the heart of Cookeville at the Putnam County Building Codes Department next to Avery Trace School. Appointments will run Saturday from 8am to 4pm.
“The Governor’s office has announced today that they would start on the 75-year-olds and older which is exciting to get those high risk people vaccinated,” Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said. “We’ve had over 2,000 health care workers and first responders that have already been vaccinated and the nursing homes are in the process of that right now.”
Long-term care facilities and nursing homes are being covered through a national program setup by President Trump with Walgreen’s and CVS. That program will also begin in the next several days.
Beginning Monday, vaccinations for those 75 years of age or older will take place at Hyder Burks Pavilion from 8am to 4pm. Appointments must be made online at PutnamCounty.Gov\vaccine.
“We want everyone to go online and sign up,” Porter said. “And if you’re a family member, you can do it for them. But that way we can judge how many people that are going to be coming to make sure that they do have enough vaccine. So they want to make sure that they don’t waste any vaccine. We will make sure we have arms to put it in.”
Porter said the vaccine has a limited shelf life meaning the health department needs to know how many units will be needed each day.
Other health departments across the Upper Cumberland will begin their vaccinations of individuals 75 years of age or older based on how they are doing with vaccinations for front line emergency and medical workers.
COVID testing will resume next Tuesday and Thursday. Self-tests are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
