Health Wagon vaccinations go on

The good news is that The Health Wagon continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations and is planning weekly vaccination clinics.

The bad news is that the organization and the Virginia Dental Association Foundation have canceled this year’s summer pop-up health service clinics because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

VACCINATIONS

In a Thursday press release, the nonprofit medical clinic announced that in the previous two weeks, staff had vaccinated 325 people at its Wise and Clintwood locations.

The Health Wagon has established a vaccine waiting list and is vaccinating persons ages 18-64 with comorbidities or preexisting health conditions or anyone above the age of 65.

Vaccines are first come, first serve.

Vaccines are distributed to the Health Wagon by the Virginia Department of Health and vaccine supply is still very limited. Call 276/328-8850 to be placed on the waiting list and you will be called for a drive-through appointment as the vaccine becomes available.

Drive-through patients receive the vaccine and wait 15 minutes before discharge to monitor any potential adverse reactions, according to Health Wagon chief Teresa Tyson.

SUMMER EVENTS CUT

The Health Wagon announced Monday that it and the dental association group would cancel the Move Mountains Medical Mission (formerly known as the Wise Remote Area Medical event) and the VDAF Mission of Mercy. The events were schedule to take place July 9-10 in Wise.

“Public safety is of the utmost importance and after planning the event for over 20 years, it was a painstaking decision, but everyone’s health and safety were paramount,” Tyson said. “We will be planning for a 2022 event knowing how deeply meaningful the event is to the region for saving lives and knowing that thousands had come to depend on the event for eye, dental and medical services.”

If you signed up with the Health Wagon as a volunteer for vision and medical at volunteers.thehealthwagon.org, you do not have to do anything. The Health Wagon will save your information and will contact you to sign up for next year’s event (date yet to be determined).

If you have questions, contact the Health Wagon at 276/328-8850 or contact Nicole France at nfrance@thehealthwagon.org. If you enrolled as a volunteer and have a hotel or lodging reservation, please cancel it immediately.

For patients located in Southwest Virginia needing dental cleanings, extractions and restorative care, the Health Wagon has recently hired a full-time dentist who is accepting patients. To make an appointment, please contact 276/328-8850. The Health Wagon will be hosting smaller specialty clinics throughout the rest of the year.

The Health Wagon and VDAF will begin planning for next year’s event shortly. To be added to the list serve for monthly meetings, please email nfrance@thehealthwagon.org.