STATE NEWS | Tennessee will move into COVID-19 vaccine phase 1c on Monday, March 8. Phase 1c includes those with high-risk health conditions and caregivers of medically fragile children with high-risk conditions. The state estimates that the next phase will include over 1.1 million Tennesseans and TDH decided to advance to the next phase to take advantage of the large inventory of vaccine they anticipate in the next weeks.
Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercy announced the move on Tuesday during a news conference.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health Dashboard, over 1.4 million total vaccinations have happened in our state with 13.33 percent of the population receiving at least one dose including 878 people in Moore County.
Under Phase 1c, all Tennesseans aged 16 and older with high risk comorbidities and caregivers of medically-fragile children with high-risk comorbidities may begin registering for vaccine appointments in Moore County beginning Monday. Individuals with chronic renal disease, COPD, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and other respiratory diseases can also register. Others included high risk conditions including obesity, heart failure, hypertension, sickle cell, stroke victims, dementia, liver disease, immunocompromised individuals, technology dependent folks such as those on oxygen, and women who are pregnant.
The state reminds pregnant women that the CDC and World Health Organization have advised that pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women, and women who are pregnant are encouraged to discuss this decision with their medical provider.
To see the full list of conditions included in Phase 1c, click here. To request an appointment with the Moore County Health Department, click here. Or to find other available vaccine providers use the Vaccine Finder Tool by clicking here.
The next vaccine stage for Tennessee will be 2a, which will open up vaccine appointments to critical infrastructure employees, social services, commercial agricultural, commercial food, production, corrections staff, and public transit officials. There is no state estimate for when the age-based vaccine group for Tennesseans aged 55 and older will open up.
According to Vaccine Finder, the new Johnson & Johnson one shot vaccine is not yet available in our area but the Moore County Health Department does have doses of the Moderna vaccine available. If you have questions, contact the Moore County Health Department at 931-759-4251.•
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}