With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration set to authorize Pfizer vaccines to children ages 12 to 15, health professionals in the Historic Triangle are gearing up to administer those life-saving shots.
Williamsburg Drug Co. has already begun planning to administer Pfizer vaccines to folks 16 and older as well as folks in low-income areas and home-bound residents.
With walk-in clinics scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the company’s on-site location at 240 McLaws Circle, folks are steadily pouring in to receive their vaccinations and they are not alone.
From health clinics to pop-up events to drive-thru events, the Historic Triangle is seeing residents come out to receive vaccinations, bringing the region one step closer to normalcy.
“Our job essentially is to get as many arms as we can. We’re local so, we’re supporting local businesses and our local community,” Owner T.W. Taylor said. “We’re trying to do all the outreach to the people that are less fortunate and can’t get to a clinic, they don’t have transportation, that kind of thing, so, we’re reaching out to everybody that we can.”
According to the Virginia Department of Health, as of Thursday, 41% of James City County residents are fully vaccinated with 31,782 receiving Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 41,682 residents have received their first round of the vaccine.
In Williamsburg, 30% of the total population is fully vaccinated, about 4,400 residents. Five-thousand nine-hundred and fifty residents have received their first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
York County reported roughly 22,150 of its residents are fully vaccinated accounting for 32.4% of its total population, and 29,783 residents have received the first dose of the vaccine.
According to the Virginia Department of Health’s data, there has been a direct correlation between the number of vaccines administered and the number of COVID-19 cases reported. Across the Historic Triangle, COVID-19 cases are declining.
After seeing a spike in cases on Jan. 1, with 105 cases recorded in one day, James City County has had a steady decline in cases with a seven-day average of six reported cases this week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the county has recorded a total of 4,566 confirmed cases resulting in 146 hospitalizations and 72 deaths. According to VDH data, nearly 6% of the county’s population has contracted the virus.
In Williamsburg, COVID-19 cases have remained steady. Following a spike in late March, in which the city reported 28 new cases on March 27, the city has seen a significant decrease. To date, the city is seeing a seven-day average of one new case reported a day. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has reported 758 confirmed COVID-19 cases resulting in 27 hospitalizations and 12 deaths, according to VDH data. The total number of cases reported accounted for 5.08% of the total population.
York County is following similar trends. Following a spike at the beginning of the year, which saw 73 reported cases on Jan. 3, the county has seen a steady decline in cases with a seven-day average of four new cases each week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the county has recorded 3,706 confirmed COVID-19 cases, roughly 5.4% of the total population, resulting in 68 hospitalizations and 52 deaths.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Virginia has recorded 665,332 COVID-19 cases resulting in 28,820 hospitalizations and 10,874 deaths, the VDH reports.
With the FDA set to approve Pfizer vaccinations for ages 12 to 15, the Historic Triangle is set to see additional vaccines administered.
In the Peninsula Health District, representing James City, Williamsburg, York, Newport News and Poquoson, people from infant to 19 years account for 14% of the total recorded cases.
In comparison to the state, the commonwealth’s total is sitting at 15% of the total confirmed cases.
As of Thursday, the Williamsburg-James City County school division reported 206 of its faculty, staff and students have contracted the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. On April 15, the division welcomed elementary students back four days a week with its high schools remaining on a hybrid schedule.
“More than 80% of our employees are now vaccinated, and we are working with local health partners to host a vaccine clinic for anyone 16 years and older at one of our schools. We hope to have that scheduled and ready to go as early as next week,” Superintendent Olwen Herron said.
The York County school division reported 352 confirmed cases between students, faculty and staff since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, 86 people affiliated with the division are quarantining in case of exposure. As of April 12, all students are back in the classroom four days a week.
The College of William & Mary recorded a total of 333 confirmed cases on campus during the spring semester, resulting primarily from a spike in cases in March. As of Friday, the college has one active student case and two faculty cases. With discussions rising as to if colleges will require students to receive vaccinations for the upcoming school year, the college has not released information about its plans regarding student vaccinations.
Several pharmacies and health clinics are working to make sure anyone willing will receive their vaccinations.
For the Williamsburg Drug Co., they plan to take an RV to various locations across the area, including low-income areas and home-bound residents, to offer pop-up and drive-thru opportunities. For more information, visit williamsburgdrug.com.
For a list of places offering vaccines, visit bit.ly/3urQs3Y.
For more information on COVID-19 cases and vaccinations, visit vdh.virginia.gov.
Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews
