Please DO NOT call to inquire about vaccine availability or to schedule an appointment for a COVID vaccine. The number of calls we are receiving is preventing us from assisting patients with medical emergencies. IF NO APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE, please CLICK HERE to sign up to receive an email notification when we reopen online registration.
To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online, click here. Blue Ridge Health is currently administering vaccines to individuals that are in group one and group two. Group one includes healthcare workers with direct patient contact and long-term care staff and residents. Group two includes anyone 65 years of age or older.
Blue Ridge Health is committed to keeping our patients and members of the communities we serve updated on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine. Our website will be updated when vaccines are available and they will be distributed based upon CDC guidance. We will contact patients who meet the phase requirements as we have vaccines available for distribution. Please DO NOT contact your clinic to inquire about the availability of the vaccine. Staff members are not able to provide updates over the phone.
Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions:
Does the vaccine contain the COVID-19 virus?
No. The vaccine is designed to mimic the virus and teach your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
Should I be concerned that this vaccine was developed so quickly?
No, while the vaccine was developed in record time, the research behind its development is based on 15 years of research and work on similar coronaviruses.
Will I become sick if I get the vaccine?
No. The vaccines that been authorized and recommended and those in development are designed to teach our immune system how to recognize and fight virus that causes COVID-19. There are times when this process can cause symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and pain at the injection site. The presence of these symptoms is normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus.
After getting a COVID-19 Vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?
No. The vaccines that have been recently authorized and recommended cannot cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.
Do I need to get the COVID-19 vaccine if I already had the virus and have recovered?
Yes. Due to severe health risk associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection is a possibility, a vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. The CDC is providing recommendations on who should be vaccinated first.
Will a COVID-19 Vaccine alter my DNA?
No. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
The CDC provides an overview of how the COVID-19 vaccine works.
Please visit the links below to view county specific information related to the COVID-19 vaccine phases and its availability.