LOCAL NEWS — Last Friday, the Tennessee Department of Health announced that all of Tennessee’s 95 counties could now chart their own path through the state’s vaccine eligibility phases and it didn’t take Metro Mayor Bonnie Lewis long to move things forward. On Monday morning, she announced that anyone over the age of 55 as well as those in risk-based phases 2a and 2b could immediately sign up for vaccination.

Phase 2a includes all individuals working in critical infrastructure, social services, commercial agriculture, commercial food production, corrections, and public transit. Phase 2b includes those working in transportation, public infrastructure, telecommunications, as well as utilities.

The state’s move to put control in local hands comes after number of available vaccine have skyrocketed in Tennessee.

According to their statistics, over 2.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to Tennessee providers to date with 2.2 million of those being administered. State official say they expect approximately 311,000 vaccine doses this week and will receive doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine beginning March 29. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee today announced all Tennessee adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination no later than April 5. 

“As we’ve promised, we’re able to expand our COVID-19 vaccine eligibility as vaccine supplies have increased and we’ve made substantial progress in protecting those most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “Tennessee will now open COVID-19 vaccination to all eligible adults well ahead of the federal goal of May 1.”

Mayor Lewis says all those that qualify can now register for a vaccination appointment online or by calling the Moore County Health Department at 931-759-4251.

Moore County’s drive thru vaccination site located at the Lynchburg Park off Main Street will now operate Wednesdays and Fridays. Vaccines will still be given at the Moore County Health Department Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. In order to better accommodate the public, they will start at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and stay until 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays.•

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently owned and operated newspaper that publishes new stories every morning. Covering 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.}