Lakeview Center opens COVID-19 vaccination site
HealthRidge Pharmacy distributes Moderna doses at Lake Tomahawk
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 12, 2021
HealthRidge Pharmacy will distribute COVID-19 vaccinations at the Lakeview Center for Active Aging, March 12-13. Those eligible for the vaccine can join the wait list on the HealthRidge Pharmacy website. Photo by Fred McCormick
Two-hundred COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Moderna will be distributed at the Lakeview Center for Active Aging at Lake Tomahawk, Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13.
The Black Mountain vaccination site, one of only two within town limits, opened to the public at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.
The Town of Black Mountain, which operates the Lakeview Center, is assisting HealthRide Pharmacy in facilitating the distribution of the vaccine, according to Senior Center Administrator Melinda Polites.
“We have been working with HealthRidge on this for some time, but there was some uncertainty about when the first doses of the vaccine would arrive,” Polites said. “We found out about 24 hours ago, and things have been pretty smooth this morning.”
COVID-19 vaccinations in N.C. are available to healthcare workers, long-term care staff and residents; older adults and frontline essential workers. Black Mountain Recreation staff have worked to inform area seniors of the upcoming vaccination site through various methods, including promoting them during the curbside lunch pickup program for adults age 60 and over held weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
All vaccination appointments at Lakeview are full, according to Polites, but staff recommend anyone eligible sign up.
“It’s not uncommon to have no-shows in some of these spots, so there is an opportunity to climb up the waiting list,” Polites said. “In fact, I tell everybody to get on an on-call list and tell them you can be there in 10 minutes, if possible.”
A wait list is available through https://healthridgepharmacy.com/covid-19 or by calling HealthRidge, which is administering the vaccine, at 828-669-9970.
Walgreens and HealthRidge are currently the only two pharmacies in the 28711 zip code with vaccines available, according to vaccinefinder.org.
“A lot of our seniors in this community have a hard time getting to Asheville, so having the vaccine available here is really helpful for them,” Polites said. “The entrance to the Lakeview site is accessible through the front door facing the pool, and so far today the lines have been short and moving quickly.”
Photo identification and insurance cards are requested at the door, but the vaccines are free of charge.
“We’re grateful to help HealthRidge get these vaccinations out to the public,” Polites said. “They are providing a key service for the community and we’re happy to help facilitate it.”
For more information on eligibility and availability of COVID-19 vaccines, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines.