The winter storm that brought freezing rain, snow and frigid temperatures caused the Mississippi Department of Health to close many of the state’s drive-thru coronavirus testing and vaccination sites. Residents with suspected infections are encouraged to isolate until they can be tested. Dr. Jennifer Bryan with the Mississippi State Medical Association says some hospitals and clinics are continuing to offer both COVID-19 vaccinations and testing despite the weather. “I don’t see this hampering our efforts tremendously because there’s a great demand for the vaccine. These will be rescheduled and I think we’ll soak those vaccines up in administration over the next couple of weeks and keep moving forward, and if anything this ice storm has slowed transmission and I think it will be a net positive from this event,” says Dr. Bryan.
Rescheduled vaccination appointments can be found on the Department of Health’s website.
Earlier this week, health officials discovered the first case of a coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom through routine testing. Dr. Bryan says this variant is more contagious, and early reports suggest it could be more deadly. But she says rather than be fearful, Mississippians should focus on limiting transmission of the disease. “I don’t think that there is much different that we could be doing,” says Dr. Bryan. “The plan is quite simple. Stay away from people as much as you can. Mask up, wash your hands, and get the vaccine when it’s your turn. And if we do those things, the same things that prevent the regular COVID are going to prevent the more infectious variant.”
State officials say more vaccine appointments are available, and they expect to get additional shipments of the vaccines in the coming weeks.
