COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice makes vaccines available to residents age 50+, education workers age 40-50, and all 16+ with certain medical conditions
Press Release
VACCINATIONS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL WEST VIRGINIANS AGE 50+, EDUCATION WORKERS 40-50, AND ALL 16+ WITH CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS
During Wednesday's briefing, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia will start offering COVID-19 vaccines to additional state residents beginning immediately.
"We're going to move more aggressively to try to get more people vaccinated and widen the scope of our vaccination efforts because, at the end of the day, we're going to start having more vaccines available to us and we want to just keep pushing them out," Gov. Justice said. "Remember, the last thing we want in West Virginia is to have a bunch of vaccines just sitting on the shelf. So we're moving as quickly as we possibly can, West Virginia. We continue to run to the fire."
Vaccinations are now available for all West Virginia residents age 50 and older, all West Virginia education workers from 40 to 50 years old, and all West Virginians age 16 and older with any of the following pre-existing medical conditions:
Down syndrome
Intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caretakers
Caretakers of those with congenital or acquired disease
Organ or bone marrow transplant
Obesity (BMI > 35)
Sickle cell anemia
Cystic fibrosis
Pregnancy
West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said during his remarks that West Virginians who now qualify because of the listed medical conditions are encouraged to pre-register at vaccinate.wv.gov or by calling 1-833-734-0965 so officials can ensure that all such individuals are properly prioritized and are able to be vaccinated as efficiently as possible. Dr. Marsh added that the Joint Interagency Task Force for Vaccines will coordinate with health systems across the state to reach out to all individuals with qualifying medical conditions to assist them in scheduling an appointment to be vaccinated.
All West Virginians need to pre-register to receive the vaccine. Individuals with an occupation or pre-existing medical condition that would qualify them for vaccination immediately under the newly expanded allocation protocols should note their occupation or condition upon registration.
West Virginians who are age 65 and older will continue to be prioritized first until all state residents in this age range who desire the vaccine have been vaccinated. Any West Virginians age 65 and older who are still waiting on an appointment are urged to call the West Virginia Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965 to make sure that providers can schedule your vaccination.
HEALTH SECRETARY RE-EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED AMONG NURSING HOME POPULATION
Also on Wednesday, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch told the story of a recent nursing home outbreak in the state that highlighted how getting vaccinated, when it's your turn, can save your life and the lives of others.
"Several weeks ago, we had an outbreak at a facility in West Virginia," Sec. Crouch said. "All of the residents had been vaccinated and, as a result, zero residents were positive in that outbreak. This is a direct result of the Governor's priority for our elderly in West Virginia -- making sure they were the first to be tested and the first to be vaccinated. Interestingly, of the 60 staff members, seven chose not to take the vaccine, and all seven of those individuals tested positive during this outbreak."
The Secretary noted that West Virginia has experienced a 93% reduction in the number of nursing home outbreaks reported from December, when vaccines first became available, to February.
"Vaccines work," Sec. Crouch said. "We're asking all nursing home staff who have not yet been vaccinated to please get your vaccination."
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION UPDATE
Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice reported that West Virginia remains among the national leaders in the rate of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration.
As of Wednesday morning, 11.8 percent of West Virginia's entire population has received both doses of the vaccines; a rate so high that, if West Virginia were its own country, it would rank as the 8th-best rate of any nation in the world.
West Virginia has successfully administered 502,404 doses after receiving a total allotment of 520,535 doses from the federal government to date; an overall administration rate of 96.5%.
West Virginia COVID-19 Dashboard (Click "Vaccine Summary" tab)
West Virginia boasts a first dose administration rate of 93.0% and a second dose administration rate of 102.5%, which exceeds 100% due to extra doses being extracted from vials of the vaccine.
First doses: 302,793 administered / 325,745 allotted
Second doses: 199,611 administered / 194,790 allotted
The Governor also offered a reminder that free COVID-19 vaccination clinics either have been or will be held in all 55 counties across West Virginia by the end of this week through operation "Save Our Wisdom."
The clinics are currently available for West Virginians who are 65 years of age and older. To date, 173,979 West Virginians age 65 and older have chosen to be vaccinated, including 101,316 who are now fully vaccinated.
Each clinic location has its own, unique schedule. Names are being pulled from the West Virginia COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System to fill out appointments after waitlists are exhausted. All clinics require appointments and walk-ins will not be accepted.
West Virginia was the first state in the nation to put a statewide vaccination pre-registration system in place. The new digital tool allows West Virginians to add themselves to a list of people who are interested in being vaccinated, and will notify those who sign up about the availability of vaccine doses to help streamline vaccination efforts.
To date, more than 320,000 West Virginians have signed up to be added to the pre-registration list.
All West Virginians over the age of 16 are encouraged to pre-register at vaccinate.wv.gov.
Vaccine supplies are limited, so pre-registration does not mean immediate access to vaccination. Pre-registration offers West Virginians the opportunity to receive real-time updates on vaccine availability and schedule an appointment when available as vaccine supplies allow. The vaccine registration system allows people to select their preferences for communication through text, email, or voicemail over regular phone lines.
West Virginians who need assistance with registration for any reason should call the COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line for help at 1-833-734-0965. The info line is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Governor went on to say that increased emphasis on pre-registrations is needed in a handful of counties across the state, including Berkeley, Jackson, Jefferson, Mason, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Morgan, and Wayne counties. The Governor urged West Virginians in these counties with friends and family age 65 and older to help these individuals get pre-registered.
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