CHARLESTON — During Monday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia has partnered with Walgreens through the Federal Pharmacy Program to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to West Virginians age 65 and older, as well as members of the state’s critical healthcare workforce.
As a result of the partnership, West Virginia is set to receive up to 5,800 additional vaccine doses per week initially.
“We keep trying, in every way, and keep pleading with the federal government to get us more and more and more vaccines,” Gov. Justice said. “This is another bump. The net of the whole thing is that we’re getting close to 6,000 additional doses per week, and that’s going to help us a whole bunch.”
The Governor went on to thank Walgreens for their commitment to West Virginia, and added that state leaders plan to work with the company to utilize West Virginia’s new vaccine pre-registration system to offer appointments to those who qualify to get vaccinated at select Walgreens locations across the state.
Gov. Justice also reported that West Virginia remains among the national leaders in the rate of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration.
As of Monday morning, 5.82 percent of West Virginia’s entire population has received both doses of the vaccines. West Virginia has the highest rate of fully vaccinated residents of any state in the nation, with only one other state completing vaccinations on over five percent of their residents so far.
Meanwhile, West Virginia has successfully administered 325,781 vaccine doses after receiving an allotment of 328,600 doses from the federal government to date; an overall administration rate of 99.1 percent, which also currently stands as the best such mark in the country.
“It’s incredible just how well we’re doing this – how well West Virginia is doing,” Gov. Justice said. “I am so proud of all the people that are out there that are tirelessly carrying out this effort. It is amazing what they’re doing.
“Our goal is to always get 100 percent of our shots into arms every single week,” Gov. Justice continued. “And we are going to do just that.”
According to the latest vaccine numbers posted to the COVID-19 Dashboard(Click “Vaccine Summary” tab), West Virginia now boasts a first dose administration rate of 106.1 percent, which exceeds 100 percent due to extra doses being extracted from vials of the vaccine, as well as a second dose administration rate of 87.2 percent.
To date, West Virginia has administered 219,892 first doses and 105,889 second doses, totaling 325,781 doses administered overall statewide.
Gov. Justice went on to announce that free COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held in all 55 counties across West Virginia once again this week through operation “Save Our Wisdom.”
The clinics are available for West Virginians who are 65 years of age and older. Residents from any county in West Virginia may access an appointment at any of the vaccination clinics listed, regardless of their county of residence.
To date, 100,286 West Virginians age 65 and older have chosen to be vaccinated, including 34,288 who are now fully vaccinated.
Each clinic location has its own, unique schedule. Visit vaccinate.wv.gov to view all clinic sites and schedules.
Names are being pulled from the West Virginia COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration system to fill out appointments after waitlists are exhausted. All clinics require appointments and walk-ins will not be accepted.
West Virginians age 16 and older are urged to pre-register online or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line (1-833-734-0965) to get help pre-registering.
West Virginia was the first state in the nation to put a statewide vaccination pre-registration system in place. The new digital tool allows West Virginians to add themselves to a list of people who are interested in being vaccinated, and will notify those who sign up about the availability of vaccine doses to help streamline vaccination efforts.
To date, more than 216,000 West Virginians have signed up to be added to the pre-registration list.
Pre-registering in the system does not automatically grant users access to a vaccine appointment. Rather, users will receive a message from the system when there is a vaccine available. When that occurs, users will be notified by text, email, or phone call to set up an appointment.
