OXFORD — Granville Health System said it will begin giving the COVID-19 vaccine to adults 75 and old...
OXFORD — Granville Health System said it will begin giving the COVID-19 vaccine to adults 75 and older next week.
There is a limited supply of the vaccine. Adults who qualify must first make an appointment at http://www.ghsHospital.org or by calling 919-691-5198.
The vaccine will be given in drive-thru car visits on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in January from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Granville Primary Care & OB/GYN in Oxford. The clinic is at 110 Professional Park Drive, on the campus of Granville Medical Center.
Any adult at least 75 years old, regardless of health, qualifies for the vaccine at this time.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer members of our community doses of the vaccine,” said John F. Snow, the CEO of Granville Health System, in a statement. “Protecting those 75 and older against COVID-19 is a critical step in our mission to promote well-being; accelerate healing; and inspire hope.”
Health care workers and the staff and residents of long-term care facilities are continuing to be vaccinated as well.
Snow said that the appointment system is designed to match the limited supply of the vaccine to those who are most in need of vaccination.
“Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we begin this historic and essential service for our community,” Snow said. “As the number of vaccines increase in our community, we look forward to being part of the public health response that provides care and promotes well-being for our community.”
As of Tuesday, 695 people in Granville County had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Three people have had the second dose as well.
Statewide, more than 109,000 people have had at least one vaccine dose.
Vaccination is being done in phases throughout the state to manage the limited supply. The plan began with Phase 1a, which included health care workers working with COVID-19 patients and staff and residents at care facilities.
Those 75 and older are the first group who qualify in Phase 1b, which is divided into three groups. Next are health care and essential workers aged 50 or older. Group 3 in this phase are health care and essential workers of any age.
Granville Vance Public Health this week said it expects to begin vaccinating Group 2 around Jan. 20 and Group 3 around Feb. 8.
“We are committed to using every single dose we have and working closely with our hospital partners to be sure we get to everyone as quickly as possible,” said Lisa Harrison, the health director at Granville Vance Public Health. “Understand it may take a few weeks and for some, even a few months to get everyone scheduled and in the door. We are not worried about getting to everyone, we just can’t get to everyone tomorrow.”