NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk Department of Public Health (NDPH) continues to vaccinate Phase 1a and Phase 1b eligible residents, including seniors 65 years and older. This past week, NDPH also vaccinated residents 65 and up who live in underserved communities and are at high-risk for severe complications from COVID-19. These residents live in zip codes identified by the health department as high-risk based on health, lack of transportation, and socio-economic data. For more information, view this video.
“This is an effort to ensure we are penetrating those communities that are being disproportionately impacted,” says Norfolk Health District Director, Dr. Demetria Lindsay. “Over 70 percent of total hospitalizations come from minority communities and over 60 percent of the deaths come from these same communities. In this effort, we are partnering with the faith community, making the vaccine accessible to people who may not readily have transportation or may experience other access issues that may make it hard for them to get the vaccine.”
NDPH administered 586 doses at Booker T. Washington High School and 202 doses at STEM Academy of Campostella this past week and will continue outreach to these high-risk individuals.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine does not contain live virus and cannot cause COVID-19 infection. Vaccines are developed to protect individuals from infectious diseases such as COVID-19. After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, a person’s immune system creates a response in the body to fight off any future COVID-19 infections. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination; it may take up to two weeks after your second dose of the COVID vaccine for your body to be protected. Side effects from the vaccine are mild. Individuals may experience soreness, headache, fever, soreness at the site of injection, or flu-like symptoms.
Until there are enough people who have immunity against COVID-19, or herd immunity, preventative measures are key factors in keeping this virus at bay: wash your hands, stay six feet apart, wear masks, and stay home when you are sick.
Dr. Lindsay explains how vaccines provide protection for the body in this video: https://youtu.be/B-J_KIZ0rK4