Together Apart: More Than a Shot
More Than a Shot in the Arm
Kentucky
The COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725 can answer general COVID-19 vaccine questions. To find out which phase of the vaccination campaign you fall in, please call 855-598-2246Where You Can Get Vaccinated? Search by County: https://govstatus.egov.com/kentucky-vaccine-mapThe City of Louisville provides resources in many languages regarding COVID-19: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/covid-19-international-language-handoutsHealth Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program Participants: Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Whitesburg, KY
Tennessee
Online Scheduling for Age- and Risk-based COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments and Locations:https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/county-vaccine-information/Information on enrollment eligibility and sites by county: https://covid19.tn.gov/Appointments: https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/county-vaccine-information/The COVID-19 Vaccine Program Participants located in Knoxville, TN Cherokee Health Systems. 2018 Western Ave, KnoxvilleRecursos e información en español sobre COVID-19: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-resources-information-in-spanish.html
Virginia
Learn how to get your shot at VaccinateVirginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA. Language translation and TTY services available. 8 am to 8 pm. The Statewide Pre-Registration System for the COVID-19 vaccine is live! Visit vaccinate.virginia.gov to pre-register for a FREE COVID-19 vaccine.¿Necesita vacunarse? Infórmese de cómo obtener su vacuna visitando Vaccinate.Virginia.gov o llamando 1-877-829-4682. Servicios de traducción y teléfonos de texto (TTY) están disponibles. 8 am to 8 pm
West Virginia
Check the state’s vaccine website or call its COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 833-734-0965 for more information. All West Virginians age 16 and over are encouraged to pre-register for the vaccine, regardless of their priority status. West Virginians who need assistance or do not have internet access may pre-register by phone through the West Virginia COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965.Walgreens stores: 73 locations statewide can be booked through the pre-registration system.The COVID-19 Vaccine Program Participants located at Valley Health Systems, Inc., Huntington, WV, and Shenandoah Valley Medical System, Inc., Martinsburg, WVVaccination clinics are being held at National Guard armories, schools, community centers and other sites in all 55 West Virginia counties. Book an appointment through the state’s pre-registration system.Spanish Language information in West Virginia:Los residentes de Virginia Occidental de 65 años o más pueden recibir las vacunas contra la COVID-19 Pfizer y por Moderna. También pueden vacunarse los empleados escolares de 50 años o más y los trabajadores de la salud de primera línea.Todos los residentes de 16 años o más pueden preinscribirse para recibir la vacuna a través del sistema de inscripción en línea creado por el estado y recibir notificaciones cuando cumplan con los criterios de vacunación.Visita el sitio web de información sobre la vacuna del Departamento de Salud y Recursos Humanos o llama a la línea de información sobre la vacuna al 833-734-0965 para obtener más información.Las noticias sobre las vacunas cambian rápidamente y actualizaremos esta guía cuando sea necesario.
Veterans
Call 800-myVA411 (800-698-2411) and press 8 to be connected to the VA Vaccine Hotline to ask questions about the vaccine or other coronavirus-related topics.The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administered 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines at over 250 locations during the first month and a half of its campaign to vaccinate the millions of veterans enrolled in its system. Meanwhile, veterans can sign up to get updated information through the VA’s Keep Me Informed tool and visit its COVID-19 vaccination page: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informedCaregivers: In late January, VA health care facilities began offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to family caregivers of veterans in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.ALERT: Veterans have been targeted for fraud. AARP reports, “Late last year, the Veterans Health Administration issued an alert about veterans being phoned and asked about their interest in a vaccine. The calls were from scammers who were after personally identifiable information such as their date of birth and Social Security number.”Under no condition give out your personal information to phone solicitors you do not know.
When you get an appointment – what to bring:
Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Officials recommend that you bring a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency information, and your health insurance card, if you have one. You will not be charged but the vaccine provider may bill your insurer a fee for administering the vaccine.If you are eligible due to an underlying medical condition or “comorbidity”, you may need a note from your doctor or some other form of proof. If you are eligible on the basis of your work, bring proof of employment such as a pay stub, badge, or letter from your employer.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to wear a mask at your appointment.At your first vaccination appointment, you should receive a vaccination card with the details of the first shot and with the date of your appointment for a second dose. Bring the card to your second appointment.Inequality in Information and Access to VaccineBecause potential COVID sufferers are often isolated, they may not know their rights or have the opportunity to exercise them. Even in vaccine triaging, it is important to know your rights and to ask appropriate questions about possible side effects that might arise.At the same time, it is important to be supportive of the health care essential workers who are often at risk themselves.Cautionary Tale: Many of contact points for COVID vaccine and testing depend upon technology that is often unequally accessible. This disparity affects marginalized groups, the economically deprived, the homeless, and seniors. If you know people in those categories who have not received the vaccine, offer to help with phone and computer links. Public officials organizing the push to get vaccines out need to provide phone and media services as well as web pages. Service programs could take on the simple step of offering to help with phoning for reservations for shots and getting rides arranged. In some areas, Uber and Lyft have offered rides to vaccination sites. Also, mobile vaccination vans should be arranged for those who are housebound.Warning: Do not respond to phone solicitations that offer COVID vaccines through special deals from unknown suppliers. Predators are out there.AARP maintains a Fraud Alert service at https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/ Find news there of lots of frauds hitting older Americans.PatienceIt is tough to wait for the vaccine. Even after you receive shots you will need to maintain socially responsible distancing and wearing masks. Health care providers and frontline workers are not the reason for delays. Many of them have put their own lives at risk to serve the community.Inequality of advice:One of the inequalities that feeds distrust are the numbers of people who cannot afford to regularly see a physician. Walk-in clinics and temporary relationships with medical personnel do not lead to a sense of personal relationship and trust. TeleMedicine serves in special circumstances, but virtual contact does not substitute for actual physical presence with a doctor or nurse.If you have a personal physician: AARP recommends that you talk to your doctor about the safety, effectiveness, benefits, and risks of the COVID-19 vaccine. Older adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, are at increased risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19.Consequence of making multiple appointments: Vaccine supplies are limited everywhere and available only to those now eligible under each state’s phased plan. Most vaccine sites require you to schedule an appointment online or by phone. Appointments can be very hard to get, as available time slots are booked quickly, and you may experience long wait times on the phone. If a time slot is not available, you may be put on the site’s waiting list. Some people are signing up at multiple sites to increase chances of getting an appointment. Once you have a confirmed appointment, public health officials ask that you don’t schedule or confirm another with any other provider so that vaccine appointments stay open for others. If you schedule multiple appointments, you may create obstacles for others to book and vaccine may go unused.¿Tiene preguntas?Para saber si reúnes los requisitos para recibir la vacuna, o si deseas suscribirte para recibir avisos sobre la disponibilidad de la vacuna en tu área, usa la herramienta digital When Can I Get Vaccinated? (¿Cuándo puedo vacunarme?) ofrecida por el estado, o llama al 855-598-2246.¿Tiene preguntas? Tenemos respuestas. 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636). Gobierno de los Estados Unidos.Do I have to pay for the vaccination? No. You should not have any out-of-pocket cost for getting the vaccine. The federal government is covering the cost of the vaccine itself. Providers may receive a fee for administering the shot, but not from consumers. They will be reimbursed by the patient’s insurance company or the government (in the case of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured, for example).El Gobierno federal compra la vacuna y la distribuye a los proveedores sin costo.
For states outside of Central Appalachia not included in this list, information can be found in several internet locations.NBC TV is providing Plan Your Vaccine, https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/plan-your-vaccine/AARP hosts an online resource searchable by state: https://states.aarp.org/tag/vaccineCDC Pages for ASL sign language videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvrp9iOILTQatwnqm61jqFrsfUB4RKh6JDeaf people can get ASL interpreting or CART.¿Tiene preguntas? Tenemos respuestas. 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)Information for the blind and visually impaired: If you are disabled, you have a right to communication assistance. Blind or vision impaired people have a right to papers in Braille or large print or in a computer file readable electronically.Non-English speakers or those with limited proficiency: You can get information in another language, or you can have an interpreter. Centers for Disease Control provides an extensive service of multiple language materials and audio handouts. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/public-service-announcements.html
Contact walter@appalachiancommunityfund.org with corrections or updates.
APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY FUND
1405 E Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 379179
865.523.5783
