MEMPHIS, Tennessee — After long lines last week, the Shelby County Health Department is making a push to open more COVID-19 vaccination sites.
This week, a vaccination site will open in both Germantown and Whitehaven.
Germantown's vaccination site will begin on February 2nd at the Germantown Baptist Church. Whitehaven's location opens on Friday, Feb. 5th, at Southwest Tennessee Community College
Over the weekend, vaccination sites appeared to have shorter lines.
Pharmacist Julia Underwood finished her first volunteer shift at the Appling Emissions Station over the weekend.
“I will say the site at Appling was very well run," Underwood said. "It was very efficient. We received training when we arrived. They seemed to have a very clear plan in place so hopefully there’s been learning from mistakes and a chance to move forward and improve the process.”
Underwood is certified to vaccinate and signed up to volunteer. She said there was no better way to step up to serve the community.
Last week, the Appling locations had long lines much like at Pipkin. The health department partially attributed lack of staffing last week was to blame.
Underwood reported the site had ample volunteers on Saturday which seems to have smoothed out the vaccination process as the health department prepares to open more locations.
“What we were told at the end of our shift is they had the shortest turn around time from when cars pulled up at the Appling Station to when they got their vaccine and when they were able to pull off so I think that speaks to having a large number of volunteers," Underwood said.
More vaccination sites will mean a larger need for volunteers. Vaccinators are currently needed.
The Shelby County Medical Reserve Corps will routinely update its volunteer page based on need. Click here to volunteer.
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(GERMANTOWN NEWS RELEASE) - In partnership with the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD), the City of Germantown and Town of Collierville will begin administering second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Germantown Baptist Church beginning February 2. Only those who received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine between December 28, 2020 and January 3, 2021 are eligible to receive the second dose. At this time, all appointments from February 2 through 6 are filled.
The vaccination distribution site at the Germantown Baptist Church (9450 Poplar Avenue) will be open February 2 through February 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesday, February 3, the hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 4 pm.
If you have a vaccine appointment scheduled at Germantown Baptist Church, please review the protocols below before your visit.
Before visiting the vaccination site:
- Plan to arrive no earlier than one hour before your scheduled appointment. Patients arriving more than one hour before a scheduled appointment will be asked to leave and return closer to their scheduled appointment time.
- Bring your shot record card and confirmation of your appointment.
- Wear a mask at all times. Masks must cover the nose and mouth.
- Wear loose fitting clothing to allow a sleeve to be rolled up.
What to expect upon arrival:
- Enter into the Germantown Baptist Church parking lot using the east drive off of Poplar Avenue. There is signage to direct you to the correct entry and throughout the facility to assist with traffic flow.
- Upon entering the driveway, patients will be directed to the screening station where they will be asked to show their shot record card and verify their appointment time. Anyone who has not received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine between December 28, 2020 and January 3, 2021 and/or does not have a scheduled appointment will be directed to turn around and leave the site.
- After the initial screening, patients will follow the traffic cones to the check-in station where they will receive a clipboard for every occupant in the vehicle who is eligible and scheduled to receive the vaccine. Patients are asked to complete the paperwork on the clipboard before making their way to the shot tent. Clipboards will be sanitized between uses. The clipboard will include:
- Shot Record Card (if the individual does not have the original)
- Vaccine Authorization Form
- Pen (sanitized between uses)
- Once a patient moves through check-in and completes the paperwork, the next stop is the shot tent where individuals will receive the vaccination. A medical professional will greet individual vehicles and start the vaccination process.
- Following receipt of the vaccine, patients will be asked to move into the post-shot area where shot recipients are strongly encouraged to wait for 15 to 30 minutes before departing, depending on medical history and vaccination reactions.
- After the post-shot waiting period, patients will leave through the nearby, marked exit on Johnson Road.
As a reminder, municipal and church staff are not participating in scheduling and cannot provide information regarding vaccine availability. All questions related to the vaccine, scheduling and eligibility must be directed to the Shelby County Health Department; please visit shelby.community or call 901-222-7468 (SHOT).
