RICHMOND, Va. -- The Richmond and Henrico Health District continues to move forward with its vaccine rollout.
After two successful mass vaccination events with seniors, they're now trying to reach another at-risk group with a new mobile clinic aimed at helping those in independent living facilities.
These mobile vaccination teams will begin visiting independent living facilities that are not covered by the federal vaccination plan.
“It's important that we don't take a kind of free-for-all approach. We want to be very intentional," said Jackie Lawrence, health equity director with the Richmond and Henrico Health Department. “Because, when we don't do that, there are folks that end up falling through the cracks.”
According to Amy Popovich, nurse manager with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, there is an estimated 50 independent living facilities in the area with about 7,000 residents.
Officials said they're splitting those into three categories to reach them all and the first are in government housing and on Medicaid.
The second group is those on Medicare, followed by those with adequate insurance.
Officials said they are also continuing other vaccination events -- including regional ones -- as supply allows, noting the promised increase from the federal government didn't materialize in this week's shipment.
“We're continuing our vaccine allocation of our own supplies. Really aiming for, again, 50% for seniors, so 65-and-older, 40% for essential workers, and 10% for, another word you'll hear, congregate populations,” said Popovich.
Officials also encourage everyone who's filled out an interest formto check their emails and voicemail, so they don't potentially miss an opportunity for upcoming vaccination events.
They want to stress that these events are by appointment only.