United Hospital Center prepares to assist in mass vaccination as soon as February with Meadowbrook Mall vaccination clinic

“The availability of vaccine is all dependent on powers beyond me, but the premise is that vaccine will be much more available as we go down the next month or two or three, and that if we don’t start planning for larger scale vaccinations now, then we won’t be ready when that happens,” he said. “So we’ll be ready by the 10th.”

The clinic will be set up in the open space near Target that formerly housed Elder-Beerman.

“The mall space is 60,000 or 70,000 square feet of wide open space, so it can be configured to be able to take care of a lot of our residents at the same time. There’s two entrances — one outside and one inside — so it’s very flexible space and will be configured to maximize that space. It’s also got really good parking (and) good traffic flow,” Tillman said. “We’re delighted with that space.”

The vaccination center will have an initial capability of 1,000 doses per day and could be open four to seven days per week, according to a news release from UHC.

As additional vaccine becomes available, dosing can expand. This will be the second mega site opened in West Virginia by WVU Medicine, with another underway this week at Morgantown Mall in Monongalia County.

Once vaccine doses are available, it is anticipated that appointments will be made at the WVU Medicine COVID-19 vaccination web site: https://wvumedicine.org/info/vaccine/ or through the WVU Medicine COVID-19 phone line: 833-795-SHOT, although those details could change as hospital and state officials look more closely at the registration system for COVID-19 vaccines across the state.

The hospital will release finalized information on how to register when appropriate, according to Tillman.

Health-care leaders, including the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department, Harrison County EMS and Community Care of West Virginia are in close contact regarding Harrison County vaccination efforts, Tillman said.

A widespread vaccination effort is believed to be key in controlling community spread of COVID-19.

When open, the center will be capable of administering vaccine to any West Virginian, in accordance with state guidelines. In addition, the Doddridge, Marion and Taylor County health departments, Harrison County Emergency Management Office, several local nursing schools, Highland-Clarksburg Hospital and the Bridgeport Police Department are partners in the planning process, according to the release.

In other COVID-19 news:

— The Harrison County Commission on Thursday unanimously authorized expenditures of up to $15,000 to provide additional staffing for the county’s COVID-19 vaccination hotline.

“I’ve had complaints that people have called up to 120 times trying to get through to get on the list. We’re handling that out at (the Harrison County Office of Emergency Management),” said County Commissioner David Hinkle. “They’re swamped, and we’re not able to get to the citizens fast enough. ... We now have 10 operational phones, but only five or six can be answered because we need people.”

— The Department of Health and Human Resources reported 940 additional cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia on Thursday, bringing the active total to 25,737 and the overall total to 112,617.

— The daily percentage of positive tests was 5.25%, and the cumulative percentage positive was 5.52%.

— DHHR reported an additional 14 deaths related to COVID-19 on Thursday. Those deaths include a 93-year-old female from Wood County, a 72-year-old male from Kanawha County, a 54-year-old male from Cabell County, a 66-year-old male from Mercer County, an 81-year-old male from Doddridge County, a 65-year-old female from Kanawha County, a 66-year-old male from Harrison County, a 74-year-old female from Kanawha County, a 68-year-old male from Wood County, a 36-year-old female from Kanawha County, an 83-year-old female from Wood County, an 84-year-old male from Cabell County, a 78-year-old male from Kanawha County and a 58-year-old female from Hancock County.

— There were 638 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state, with 167 in ICUs and 88 on ventilators.