Hanover County Government has opened a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic with the goal of helping the Health Department to administer vaccine distribution. The vaccination clinic is located in the former Food Lion building in the Ashland Junction Shopping Center, 140 Junction Drive, Ashland VA 23005.
“Hanover County is committed to doing everything we can to provide vaccinations to our residents that are interested or want one,” said County Administrator John A. Budesky. “Working with the Chickahominy Health District and Hanover Fire/EMS, we continue to look for ways to support the process and make it more efficient. Having a dedicated clinic is an important step in meeting this need, and we are grateful to Food Lion for supporting our community in this way.”
The County’s vaccination team and Chickahominy Health District staff will vaccinate as many people as possible based on the supply of the vaccine. The clinic will not be open daily and hours of operation will vary, depending on the week, and appointments will be required to get vaccinated. No walk-in or drop-in vaccination opportunities are available at this time.
“If the vaccinations are not yet being distributed to the group you are in, we will put your name on the list and reach out to you when your group’s turn has arrived,” said Deputy County Administrator Jim Taylor, referring to the sign up process. “We realize that people want information, and they want to know when they can receive the vaccine. We are working as fast as we can to provide more opportunities to our residents in the weeks and months to come.”
In addition, Hanover County has established a COVID-19 Call Center with the number 804-365-3240. If you have not already filled out the Health District’s vaccine inquiry form, employees staffing the Call Center will help you determine which vaccine group you are in and submit your information. It is on the basis of this information that the Health Department will place you in the appropriate vaccination category and contact you when you are eligible for an appointment. The Call Center can also assist our residents without email or internet access.
The Chickahominy Health District will move its clinic to the Ashland Junction space on March 1 to combine forces and create efficiencies. Hanover County is also participating in regional vaccination clinics.
Hanover County’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the former Food Lion location is being managed by Hanover Fire/EMS with support from the Chickahominy Health District and a vaccine project team made up of County employees and volunteers.
“We have some limitations in terms of supply of the vaccine itself,” Budesky said at a news conference on Friday, January 29. “But we have no limitations on the commitment of our employees and volunteers to make this our Number One priority. We want every resident who wants a vaccine to get a vaccine and we will work at this until the need is addressed.”
Sean Davis, Chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, said “I don’t know how long it will take before every Virginian and every Hanoverian who wants a COVID-19 vaccination will be able to get one. To be frank, I suspect it will be several months” because of limitations on vaccine supply. “But I do promise you that we will continue to be pro-active in doing everything we can to get people through this safely.” Davis emphasized that it was the Board’s #1 priority.
Joining Davis and Budesky at the January 29 press conference was Dr. Tom Franck, Director of the Chickahominy Health District, which includes Hanover County as well as Goochland, New Kent and Charles City counties. Franck said that Virginia is rising in the rankings of number of residents receiving the vaccine. “Our goal is to be #1,” Franck said. “The way we get there is through partnerships like this one with Hanover County, Hanover Fire/EMS, Hanover Public Schools and the Town of Ashland.”
Franck said the vaccine supply increased by 16-17% this week and he expects that improvement to continue.