Free vaccines for COVID-19 continues
3/16/2023, 6 p.m.
The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free vaccines for COVID-19 and more at the following locations:
Thursday, March 16, 2 to 4 p.m. - Cary Street, 400 E. Cary St., Primary Moderna shots for age 6 months to 5 years old and 12 years and older, and bivalent boosters for age 6 years and older, Primary Pfizer shots for age 6 months and older, bivalent boosters for age 5 years and older, Novavax primary shots for age 12 and older, and boosters for age 18 and older, and baby bivalent boosters. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged.
Wednesday, March 22, 10 a.m. to noon - Henrico West
Health District, 8600 Dixon Powers Dr., JYNNEOS shots; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Primary Moderna shots for age 6 months to 5 years old and 12 years and older, and bivalent boosters for age 6 years and older, Primary Pfizer shots for age 6 months and older, bivalent boosters for age 5 years and older, Novavax primary shots for age 12 and older, and boosters for age 18 and older, and baby bivalent boosters. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged.
Thursday, March 23, 2 to 4 p.m. - Cary Street, 400 E. Cary St., JYNNEOS shots. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged.
People can schedule an appointment online at vase.vdh.virginia.gov, vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829- 4682).
VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.
Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.
RHHD also offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 205-3501 to schedule appointments.
New COVID-19 boosters, updated to better protect against the latest variants of the virus, are now available. The new Pfizer booster is approved for those aged 12 and up, while the new Moderna booster is for those aged 18 and older.
As with previous COVID-19 boosters, the new doses can only be received after an initial two vaccine shots, and those who qualify are instructed to wait at least two months after their second COVID-19 vaccine.
The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are now offering bivalent Pfizer and Moderna boosters to children between the ages of 5 and 11 in clinics in the near future. Children in this age range will be eligible after at least two months since their last vaccine dose.
New COVID-19 cases in Virginia fell 14 percent during the last week, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health, while data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association showed hospitalizations statewide dropped 14 percent since last week.
Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico County are at low levels of community COVID-19. No localities in Virginia are ranked at high community COVID levels, while 8 were ranked at medium as of last week.
As of Tuesday, Richmond reported a total of 61,462 cases, 1,308 hospitalizations and 553 deaths; Henrico County, 91,669 cases, 1,759 hospitalizations and 1,083 deaths; Chesterfield County, 100,249 cases, 1,771 hospitalizations and 876 deaths; and Hanover County, 29,120 cases, 943 hospitalizations and 348 deaths.
Compiled by George Copeland Jr.