After holding court (literally) at the WVU Rec Center since September 2020, Monongalia County Health Department will move its COVID-19 testing and vaccines to its headquarters at 453 Van Voorhis Road.
The new schedule begins Monday, with testing on the lower level of MCHD from 8-10 a.m. Testing will be held again from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday. This Monday and Thursday schedule is set through the end of May, with no testing on May 30 because of Memorial Day.
The schedule might fluctuate from month to month based on demand and other factors.
COVID vaccines will be given via appointments made at MCHD Clinical Services by either going online (monchd.org and then click on the COVID Vaccine Scheduling button at the top of the home page) or by calling 304-598-5119.
“This is the natural transition from the pandemic to an endemic virus,” said Anthony DeFelice, MCHD’s executive director.
Jamie Moore, program manager of MCHD Threat Preparedness, and Jennifer Goldcamp, director of nursing at MCHD Clinical Services, noted that it makes sense for these services to be absorbed by the health department as a response to the shift to the endemic stage of COVID-19, which means that it’s expected that the virus is here to stay.
“It doesn’t mean it’s not spreading,” said Moore, who urged individuals to still get tested if symptomatic, when planning travel or perhaps before and after other big events. “It means it will probably always be spreading in our community.”
In an endemic, there might be more localized outbreaks of COVID in a community rather than a larger, nationwide situation, Moore added. “If you are getting tested, you can help protect the ones you love from getting ill.”
In addition to COVID vaccine appointments at Monongalia County Health Department, there also will be pop-up clinics in the community to provide more opportunities for citizens to get their first and second doses of Moderna (ages 18 and up) or Pfizer (ages 5 and up) as well as boosters.
“We want to keep the severity of COVID at bay, so getting COVID vaccines will help keep you out of the hospital and from having severe illness,” Goldcamp said.
Current pop-up clinics:
- Five locations from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, during Save a Life Day: McDonald’s at Sabraton and Westover; WVU Mountainlair; Woodland United Methodist Church on the Mileground and Hotel M on Saratoga Avenue
- Morgantown Farmers Market, 8-10:30 a.m. May 14
- Christian Help, 1-3 p.m. May 16
- Two at Morgantown Municipal Airport this month, from 4-6 p.m. May 18 and May 25. These will be drive-through clinics.
- Sabraton United Methodist Church, 1234 Richwood Ave., from 4-7 p.m. May 19.
To see an updated testing and vaccine pop-up clinic schedule, follow MCHD’s social media, which includes Facebook and Twitter (@WVMCHD) and Instagram (#wvmchd). The schedule is pinned to the top of the Facebook page, and also can be found at monchd.org and at monchd.org/testingandvaccines.html.
When individuals come to the health department for testing on Mondays and Thursdays, they should park at the lower level of the building. There will be a sign on the door to the right, which is usually locked to non-employees, to direct them where to go.
For vaccines, individuals should go to the upper level of the health department and enter at the main entrance in the center. They will walk through a temperature scanner and then go to their vaccine appointment.
Individuals with mobility issues can call to request a vaccine in their cars.
