Over the next three Saturdays, venues in Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro are hosting 'Vax the Valley' events put on by the Central Shenandoah Health District and Augusta Health. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
This Saturday [July 24], at the Sunspots Pavilion in downtown Staunton, local rock bands will kick off the Vax the Valley events – gatherings with live music, raffles, kids' activities, and free COVID-19 vaccines.
ISAAC IZZILLO: We wanted to create something that was fun, engaging, encouraging, positive for the community to not only celebrate our vaccination efforts, but also encourage others to be feeling comfortable to come get vaccinated.
Isaac Izzillo is the director of COVID vaccination and education at Augusta Health. The health system is partnering with the Central Shenandoah Health District for these events.
Augusta Health and the Virginia Department of Health are financial supporters of WMRA.
JORDI SHELTON: I think right now in Augusta we've got about 57.4% of all adults receiving at least one dose. In Staunton it's about 67.3 and in Waynesboro it's about 65%.
Jordi Shelton is the communication specialist for the health district.
SHELTON: Compared to Central Shenandoah, actually those localities are a little bit higher than other localities. So it is truly a celebration of how far this area has come in vaccination efforts. We do have a lot to be proud of, and an understanding that we can go even further, too.
They'll also have medical staff available to answer any questions you may have about the vaccines.
