The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department cautioned Monday that while the county’s COVID-19 case numbers are trending down, COVID-19 remains our number one public health crisis.
“Our vaccination efforts are working, but we still have a public health crisis on our hands with COVID-19,” said Dr. Sherri Young, health officer and executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. “With variants of the virus becoming more predominant in our community, it’s more important than ever to get a COVID-19 vaccine and to continue social distancing, wearing a mask in public and frequently washing your hands.”
With the FDA expected to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 12-15 within the next few days, Dr. Young is planning how best to vaccinate the more than 7,500 students in that age group in our community and will be looking to order more Pfizer doses for that purpose.
Public vaccination events will be specifically coordinated for youth in the age range of 12-15 once the vaccine is available to make it as easy as possible to receive their vaccine. Getting this age group vaccinated will help stop the spread of the virus in schools and sports.
“It’s essential that parents make the call to get their children vaccinated when the time comes, and they’re able to do that,” Dr. Young said.
Nearly 83,000 Kanawha County residents have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 67,000 have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
Community vaccinating teams can be assigned and deployed at any time to vaccinate groups. The health department has several clinics planned this week. COVID-19 vaccines are also available by appointment at KCHD by calling 304-348-8080.