As UVA Health hit a significant COVID-19 vaccine milestone this week – administering its 20,000^th dose – the health system is expanding its partnership with the Blue Ridge Health District to vaccinate the community.

As of Wednesday evening, UVA Health had administered more than 23,000 doses – including 4,315 doses to community members ages 75 and older at the direction of the health district – and has scheduled more than 23,000 additional doses for administration in the coming weeks.

With the help of more than 700 UVA Health employees who have volunteered as vaccinators, UVA has delivered up to 1,400 doses per day.

“I am proud of the team from across UVA Health that has developed our vaccination program, and we are pleased to partner with the Blue Ridge Health District to help vaccinate our community members,” said Dr. K. Craig Kent, UVA’s executive vice president for health affairs. “UVA Health is fully committed to supporting the Virginia Department of Health and Blue Ridge Health District in their efforts to vaccinate everyone in our state as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

To further support community vaccination efforts in Central Virginia, UVA Health is partnering with the Blue Ridge Health District to develop a second community vaccination site. UVA and the health district plan to provide more information about the community vaccination location in the coming days. UVA is currently sending vaccinators to the community vaccination site located in the parking lot of the former Kmart on Hydraulic Road.

UVA also plans to vaccinate patients receiving dialysis at all UVA dialysis centers and local DaVita dialysis facilities. Patients on dialysis are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19, and many of them do not have online access to sign up for appointments. At the UVA dialysis units, health system team members are working diligently to help patients get appointments.

“Providers, pharmacists and staff are now fanning out across the dialysis program registering patients and administering vaccinations. A large team of UVA Health staff members is supporting the complex logistics needed to ensure we can safely vaccinate every eligible patient at our clinics throughout Central Virginia,” said UVA nephrologist Dr. Brendan Bowman, who has helped lead the effort.

Deb Cote, administrator for UVA’s dialysis program, thanked the partners that are helping make these vaccinations possible. “This would not be possible without the timely responsiveness and action by the Virginia Department of Health and the Blue Ridge Health District,” she said.

The Blue Ridge Health District leads community vaccination efforts in the Charlottesville area. Community members looking to learn more about vaccination plans for the Blue Ridge Health District and when they will be eligible for the vaccine should visit the health district’s website. The Blue Ridge Health District is currently prioritizing vaccinating Phase 1A front-line health care workers, some Phase 1B essential workers, and individuals ages 75 and older.