AUGUSTA HEALTH UPDATE:  March 21, 2022

Current Vaccination Dose Count at Augusta Health:

• Total doses given at Augusta Health Vaccination Clinics:                                113,829
• Community members fully-vaccinated at AH Vaccination Clinics:                  47,444
• Boosters                                                                                                                         22,915
• Children age 5-11                                                                                                          3,267

Current COVID Situation
COVID activity in the community and at Augusta Health is low.   

Our Augusta Health testing positivity rate for the week of March 13-19 was 6.3%.  Our current inpatient COVID-19 census is 4, with no deaths over the past week.

In the 24 hours preceding 9:00 am on Monday, March 21, 4 new positive cases of COVID were diagnosed at Augusta Health testing sites.  Daily reports of positive cases have been in the single digits each day. 

Because of lower COVID activity throughout the community and nation, two upcoming changes will occur over the next few weeks:

• Federal CARES funding for COVID-related activities will end.  HRSA, the Health Resources and Services Administration, has been providing reimbursement for all testing and treatment of COVID.  Beginning March 22, HRSA will stop accepting claims for COVID-related testing and treatment for uninsured patients.  Health insurance policies will begin to resume standard claims processing for COVID-related visits.  Patients may incur balances for COVID-related testing and treatment.  As this occurs, just a reminder that both uninsured and insured patients at Augusta Health are eligible and encouraged to apply for Augusta Health Financial Assistance to help with payment.  Financial Assistance information is available at https://www.augustahealth.com/service/business-office/financial-assistance/
• On April 18, 2022, the Vaccination Clinics and MABS (monoclonal antibody infusion clinics) will be combined at one location in the Waynesboro Primary Care/Urgent Care location at 201 Lew Dewitt Boulevard in Waynesboro.  The Vaccination Clinic on the Fitness Center Tennis Courts will close and move on this date.  More information will be provided closer to the moving date.

Vaccination Eligibility
Augusta Health is vaccinating everyone age 5 and older who lives, works or goes to school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for individuals age 18 and over.  Pfizer vaccine is authorized for individuals age 5 and older; a parent or legal guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of those under the age of 18.  Eligibility varies by vaccine, so please verify the criteria before registration. 

Children Age 5-11 years old:

To ensure patient safety and in awareness of the different dosage for the 5-11 year old age group, there are separate clinics for ages 5-11 only at the on-campus location.  Again, a parent or legal guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of those under the age of 18. 

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR VACCINE OR BOOSTER at vaccinate.augustahealth.com. 

If you are registering for a booster, and are switching vaccine, make an appointment for the type of booster you want.  For example, if you originally received a Pfizer vaccine, but would like a Moderna booster, make an appointment in a Moderna clinic. 

If you have questions about eligibility, please call Augusta Health’s Vaccination Call Center at 540.332.5122. 

Please bring your COVID Vaccination Record Card to the booster appointment.

Vaccinations in Primary Care Offices
Vaccinations for COVID-19 continue in all Augusta Medical Group primary care offices.  Patients who prefer to receive a vaccination or booster from their personal physician should contact their doctor’s office to be scheduled into the next available vaccination appointment block. 

Community-Based Clinics
This week, Augusta Health will provide community-based clinic at the Stuarts Draft Library on Tuesday, March 22 and at Allen Chapel on Thursday, March 24.

To date, more than 10,500 vaccines have been administered at clinics within vulnerable communities by the Augusta Health Task Force.  Community organizations that would like to partner with Augusta Health for a Vaccination Clinic can contact VaccinationTaskForce@augustahealth.com for more information on the requirements.

Large on-campus Vaccination Clinics
Please make an appointment for on-campus clinics. 

Go to vaccinate.augustahealth.com to view the links and schedule an appointment.  Information about new clinics, the links and the criteria for each link, are posted as available.  On-campus clinics this week are:

• Wednesday, March 23:  Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Clinics from 3 pm to 6 pm for those age 12 and older.  

First dose, second dose and booster dose available to those age 12 and older.  Only Pfizer vaccine is available for those age 12-17.  Those 18 and older can receive any vaccine.  A parent of guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of a child under the age of 18.  Please verify criteria before registration.  

• Thursday, March 24:  Pfizer Clinic from 3 pm to 6 pm for those ages 5-11.  

First dose, second dose and third dose available to those between the ages of 5 and 11.  A parent or guardian must be present to consent to vaccination of a child under the age of 18.  Please verify criteria before registration.   

The links are open at vaccinate.augustahealth.com

Vaccination Call Center
Not everyone has access to the internet.  Others just have questions.  For assistance, call Augusta Health’s Vaccination Call Center at 540.332.5122.  The Call Center is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm to answer questions and help to schedule vaccination appointments.

We appreciate our continued partnership with CSHD as we work together to provide vaccines to all in the community who need them.