by Kate Shunney
As of Monday morning, West Virginians were able to sign onto a new online COVID vaccine scheduling tool that will notify them about when vaccine doses are available for them.
The tool can be found at Vaccinate.WV.gov
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West Virginia will be the first state in the U.S. to utilize this type of digital vaccination scheduling system, state officials said. The tool is through a company called Everbridge, which helps states notify their citizens when there is a fire, flood, or a hurricane.
Morgan County currently uses Everbridge for their emergency notifications.
Under the COVID vaccine registration system, state residents of any age can indicate their interest in getting the vaccination. They will set up an account and receive confirmation of interest in the vaccine.
According to state officials, the digital scheduling program will then alert those with an account when they can be eligible for a vaccine dose, based on age and other criteria under the state’s distribution plan.
Residents from any county in West Virginia may access an appointment at any vaccination clinic with availability, regardless of their county of residence, state health officials said.
Gov. Jim Justice announced last week that the community vaccination clinic model will be expanded to serve all 55 counties in West Virginia by Monday, Februrary 1.
For now, free vaccination clinics for West Virginians age 65 and older have been held recently in Berkeley, Braxton, Cabell, Greenbrier, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, Marshall, Mercer, Monongalia, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, and Wood counties.
Already, many clinics have a full schedule of residents already signed up for their vaccines.
Some Morgan County residents over the age of 80 who got their first COVID vaccine earlier this month are scheduled to receive their second dose this weekend.
All clinics require appointments and walk-ins aren’t accepted.
West Virginia also has a COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line available during the daytime hours at 1-833-734-0965.
