LINCOLN COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE: Lincoln County EMA will not be taking any more people seeking to be vaccinated. This was announced Saturday morning due to high turnout. At 9:30 am, WZDX was told by the Health Department PIO that those who are not in line will not be able to get the vaccine. Our team is looking into how those who arrived after the decision was made can receive the vaccine in the future.
Tennessee has updated their vaccination plan to include people who are 75 or older in phase 1a2.
In the updated plan, teachers have been bumped up to a higher priority category. Some rural counties have already started vaccinating people 75 years and older and are nearly ready to move to the next phase, which will offer vaccines to teachers and people 65 and up.
People in the first phases, phase 1a1 and phase 1a2, have an opportunity to get vaccinated for COVID-19 on Saturday, January 2 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Lincoln County Health Department. No appointment is needed.
If you are currently sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, you should wait to be vaccinated until you are well.
In Tennessee's updated vaccination plan, the first phase focuses on health care workers, in-patient providers, first responders, and people at long-term care facilities. Recently, the state started a vaccination plan based on age and now includes people who are 75 or older in phase 1ab.
"According to the studies, if we're going to curb this, we need the vaccination," said Lincoln County EMA Director and Fire Chief, Doug Campbell. "The age 75 naturally hits the most vulnerable population, so that's why they're starting with that and then they're going to back it down by groups of ten years as they move forward with the different step downs and move to the group twos and threes."
The vaccines being given on Saturday are first come, first serve.
After getting the vaccine, people must be monitored for at least 15 minutes before leaving.
"None of our first responders who have gotten the vaccine so far have had any major ill effects," said Campbell. "My arm was sore about like a tetanus shot for a couple days, and we've had a couple who have had a few mild symptoms but no major reactions to the vaccine at all so far."
Campbell says the health department will accommodate those who have a hard time getting in and out of the car.
Because it is a two-dose vaccine, people vaccinated on Saturday must go back for the second shot.
Campbell said, "They will be given an immunization card like the ones we were given as first responders with the date for their next shot, but with the fluid situation we are in right now, we're not sure if it'll be a drive-thru or if they'll come back to the health department."
For more information about the vaccination event, call the Lincoln County Health Department at 931-433-3231.
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