Norfolk to scale back COVID-19 vaccine clinics to twice a week at Military Circle
The community vaccination center at Norfolk’s Military Circle mall will close next week following waning demand for coronavirus vaccines, the state health department announced Friday.
The regional center, which is run by the Virginia Department of Health and open Tuesday through Saturday, will close March 25.
The Norfolk Health Department will continue using the site to administer walk-in COVID-19 vaccines in a scaled-back operation. Starting April 5, vaccines will be available at the old Macy’s building on Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a news release.
The announcement comes after a community vaccination center in Newport News closed last month. The COVID-19 community testing center at Military Circle closed Feb. 10 as the state health department transitioned to a mobile testing initiative.
Decreased demand and uncertainty surrounding vaccine approval for children under the age of 4 prompted the closures of the vaccination centers, according to VDH spokesman Larry Hill.
Virginia’s nine community vaccination centers administered 8,300 doses of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 28, 2021. In contrast, on Feb. 26 of this year, 732 doses were administered, Hill said.
More than 48,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been provided at the Military Circle mall site since October, Hill said.
Health officials are encouraging but not requiring people to make appointments at the community vaccination center before it closes. To make an appointment, visit Norfolk/VAB and input “23502″ into the zip code search bar to schedule an appointment at the MCM vaccination center, or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682).
Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
