NEW: Sullivan County Health Dept. to lower vaccine eligibility age to 55, open up to Phase 2a and 2b beginning Monday

More people will become eligible to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Sullivan County starting Monday.

The Sullivan County Health Department announced Friday that they are lowering the eligibility age for COVID-19 vaccinations to those 55 and older as well as opening up eligibility for individuals in Phase 2a and 2b, all beginning Monday, March 22.

Below is the list of individuals considered to be in Phase 2a:

*Social Services (DCS) (includes child welfare agency personnel with direct public exposure)
*Commercial agriculture
*Commercial food production
*Corrections staff not included in 1a1 (includes administrative staff, those without regular public/inmate
contact)
*Public transit

Below is the list of individuals considered to be in Phase 2b:

*Transportation (including postal and package delivery, freight railroad, maritime cargo, commercial or
cargo service airports)
*Public infrastructure (includes dams, roads, locks, and bridge maintenance and engineering, solid waste
collection, and processing)
*Telecommunications (includes those providing direct services)
*Utilities/Energy (includes line workers and other maintenance and engineering personnel involved in
direct provision of services)

Anyone in these groups can now begin calling to schedule a vaccine appointment for the following week. Appointments are currently open for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine at Whitetop Creek Park for March 22-23 and March 25-26 from 9 a.m-3 p.m. Appointments are also open for first Pfizer vaccine doses at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium for March 22-26 from 9 a.m-3 p.m.

Individuals that would like to schedule an appointment should call 423-279-2777.

Photo Courtesy: Sullivan County Health Department