Vaccine hesitancy becoming rising problem in the New River Health District
Dr. Noelle Bissell said ‘nothing is exactly risk-free’
Updated:
Tags:
NEW RIVER VALLEY, Va. – There are signs of hope for the New River Health District as coronavirus cases continue to decline, but new fears are deterring people from getting their vaccine or missing their second dose.
For months, Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell told 10 News not enough vaccine supply was the problem. But with more appointments vacant, she worries if the community will be able to achieve 75% herd immunity.
With a Brazilian COVID-19 variant now in Virginia, Bissell said it’s crucial to get the vaccine. However, with the state pulling the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Bissell said the fear of side effects is rising.
COVID-19 vaccine clinic draws thousands to Lane Stadium
Published Saturday, Apr. 17, 2021, 3:49 pm
Join AFP s 100,000+ followers on Facebook
Purchase a subscription to AFP
Subscribe to AFP podcasts on iTunes and Spotify
News, press releases, letters to the editor: augustafreepress2@gmail.com
Virginia Tech students received first dose shots of the Moderna vaccine at a clinic held in Lane Stadium on April 15. Photo by Ryan Young/courtesy Virginia Tech.
A record for single-day victories in Lane Stadium was likely achieved on Thursday.
“Every shot in the arm is a win,” said Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Valley Health District. “The more people you get vaccinated, the less the disease is circulating because the fewer people you have vulnerable to infection.”
Thousands of Virginia Tech students got vaccinated at Lane Stadium Thursday
The clinic was the largest hosted by the New River Health District to date
Tags:
Thousands of Virginia Tech Hokies are now one step closer to being fully vaccinated.
On Thursday, the New River Health District teamed up with the university to host a mass vaccinate site at Lane Stadium, vaccinating an estimated 4,000 Virginia Tech students.
New River Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell says the clinic is happening at an important time.
“They are going back home to friends and relatives who might be higher risk not just their low-risk social circle, and they might not be vaccinated yet so we thought that we really do need to get it out,” said Bissell.
Online self-scheduling now available for Thursday, Friday’s COVID vaccine clinic in New River Valley
The clinics will be held in Blacksburg and Christiansburg
Published:
Tags:
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – If you’re still in need of the COVID-19 vaccine, you’re in luck. There will be vaccine clinics to anyone ages 18 and up Thursday, April 15 in Blacksburg and Friday, April 16 in Christiansburg.
Now, the New River Health District is offering an online self-scheduling tool to help through who live and work in the New River Valley make their appointment to receive the vaccine.
“Adding another method to get an appointment helps us vaccinate more people as quickly as possible,” said Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Health District. “These different options give us flexibility to adapt to changes in vaccine supply and make sure we can use all of the doses and volunteers we have as efficiently as possible.”
Thousands of people have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine across Southwest and Central Virginia and health experts say they understand if there are concerns.