With the first week of COVID-19 vaccinations wrapped up at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena, the Lenoir County Health Department (LCHD) has a few pieces of information it would like to share with our county’s residents:

• The next round of vaccines will be administered to residents 65-and-older. The LCHD will be making calls this week for the next clinic, which begins the last week of January

• Here are the phone numbers to call for those 65-and-older who would like to register for the vaccine: 252-526-4202 or 252-526-4202, Ext. 4323. You cannot receive the vaccine without being registered. Calls will be returned this week to residents who have already left messages

• As the health department temporarily switches its focus to vaccinating county residents, it is not going to be possible for LCHD employees to make all the calls to residents who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. As a result, residents will be texted, emailed and called by state public health employees. Please answer your phone or return calls to those employees who are helping our local health department at this time

• LCHD hours will be reduced while employees are vaccinating county residents

• A reminder: If you received the first round of the vaccine this week, you will need to return to the Livestock Arena the first week of February to get your second dose

• The LCHD performed 799 vaccinations last week at the clinic

• The LCHD still has a limited number of vaccines but the state is working to get more locations verified in the county (including pharmacies and doctor’s offices). Please continue to monitor the LCHD Facebook page and the county website (lenoircountync.gov) for updated locations

• UNC Lenoir Health Care has opened a vaccination clinic; please call 984-215-5485 for more information about it, or you can schedule online at yourshot.org.

*Updated to correct the telephone number and add website information.