We answered your COVID-19 vaccine questions in our fourth town hall in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health. Hundreds of people watched on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, for the latest installment of Vaccinate Virginia, a town hall featuring medical experts from across the state hosted by anchor Juan Conde.
The panelists provided answers to your COVID-19 vaccine distribution questions, dispelled myths and misinformation, offered guidance on health care and more. Watch the replay above and learn more about COVID-19 in Virginia in our previous town halls.
FOLLOW THE CONVERSATION
Follow the conversation on social media. Search for #VaccinateVirginia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
THE MEDICAL EXPERTS
- Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia Vaccine Coordinator
- Dr. Taison Bell, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Divisions of Infectious Disease and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of Virginia
- Dr. Norm Oliver, Virginia State Health Commissioner
- Dr. Sergio Rimola, OBGYN, Inova Health System
- Dr. Karen Shelton, Director Mount Rogers Health District, Virginia Department of Health
- Dr. David Switzer, Medical Director, Population Health, Valley Health System
PREVIOUS TOWN HALLS
2/10/21: The big question we heard from people leading up to the February Town Hall was, “When will I be able to vaccinate myself and my family?” The Virginia Department of Health and medical experts from across the state partnered with 8News for a virtual town hall hosted by anchor Juan Conde to answer that questions. The panelists provided answers and direction on Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccine, distribution, myths and misinformation, registration response, guidance on health care, financial, educational and outreach resources.
12/16/20: The Virginia Department of Health and medical experts from across the state joined 8News and anchor Juan Conde for a virtual town hall in December 2020 to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
4/21/20: 8News hosted a virtual town hall with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam; Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine; and Dr. Laurie Forlano, Deputy Commissioner of Population Health at Virginia Department of Health, in April 2020. Learn more
ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
- A Kentucky medical center is working with a local McDonald's to help vaccinate restaurant workers.
- The report indicated that just under 19% of all asymptomatic COVID-19 patients began to exhibit “persistent or new symptoms” 30 days or more after their initial positive diagnosis.
- Data from the Virginia Department of Health shows that so far Virginia has received 9,571,025 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Out of those doses, 87% have been administered.
- Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney called on the city's school board Wednesday to "do the right thing" and work alongside his administration as it moves forward with plans to replace George Wythe High School as quickly as possible.
- Nearly 70 percent of Virginia adults have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, less than three weeks from President Biden's goal to reach the milestone by July 4.
- Virginia health officials announced Tuesday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded $30.6 million to the Commonwealth in order to address health inequities created and exacerbated in high-risk and underserved communities by the coronavirus pandemic.
- The Richmond and Henrico Health District and the Chesterfield Health District are holding numerous COVID-19 vaccine events throughout the course of this week.
- The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.
- In an effort to help with the COVID-19 vaccination process, Columbus City Council unanimously voted to approve a new initiative that will put cash into residents' pockets.
- Starting this week, children ages 12 and older can stop by the adolescent clinic each Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Rockwood Vaccination Center.