NRV Public Health Task Force announces changes to COVID-19 vaccine eligibility schedule, locations

(CHRISTIANSBURG, Virginia) – The New River Valley Public Health Task Force is now providing COVID-19 vaccinations to those ages 16 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions. To pre-register, visit www.NRVRoadtoWellness.com. For now, vaccines remain available only by pre-registration and appointment.

The task force is especially seeking to locate anyone age 65 and up who wishes to receive a vaccine but does not yet have an appointment. Anyone meeting those criteria should call the Vaccine Scheduling Center at 540-838-8222.

After operating a vaccine clinic continuously for more than two months at the Blue Ridge Church in Christiansburg, and in anticipation of increased supplies of vaccines, the task force and the New River Health District are shifting to a series of regular clinics across the district. Next week’s schedule includes clinics at the Dedmon Center at Radford University Tuesday, Blacksburg High School Wednesday and Grace Life Church in Christiansburg Thursday. Future vaccination schedules and locations will vary, and will be listed each week at www.NRVRoadtoWellness.com/where-to-get-vaccinated. (Pre-registration and appointments are required.)

“The entire New River Valley, particularly the 60,000 that have been vaccinated thus far – and all those they now protect – owes the people of Blue Ridge Church a huge expression of gratitude for their commitment to our community’s collective well-being,” said Noelle Bissell, M.D., director of the New River Health District. “They have been a faithful and generous resource, in service to our efforts to limit the spread of COVID illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.”

Last night, the task force held a live, virtual forum on the “State of COVID-19 in the New River Valley,” featuring an overview of the COVID-19 response infrastructure, a general update on COVID-19, vaccines and mental health. The one-hour meeting video is available here (https://youtu.be/agp2S9Zayrk?t=245).

This meeting will be archived with closed-captioning on YouTube, agency websites and social media, and rebroadcast on local cable access stations including Comcast and Shentel Channel 190 (Christiansburg and Montgomery County) and Comcast Channel 2 (Blacksburg).

For more information on COVID-19 in the New River Valley, visit www.NRVRoadtoWellness.com.

For general COVID-19 questions, call 540-267-8240.