ROCKINGHAM — Working with the Richmond County Health Department, FirstHealth of the Carolinas launched Operation FirstShot Monday morning at Moore Regional Hospital–Richmond.
The effort, part of FirstHealth’s broader strategy to offer COVID-19 vaccination to eligible members of the public, will allow people 75 and older who live in Richmond County to get their first and second doses of Moderna’s vaccine.
Mary and Bernie Fulp, of Ellerbe, were among the first on Monday to receive their vaccines. Mary Fulp, 77, said she and her 90-year-old husband have been staying home and trying to stay safe since the beginning of the pandemic.
“We are very happy for the opportunity to be vaccinated and couldn’t wait for this day to come,” Mary Fulp said.
The clinics will continue to be open in the coming days and weeks as vaccine supply allows. The clinics are open only to those who have a scheduled appointment and are residents of Richmond County.
“I’m proud of our leaders and staff at MRH-Richmond and the Richmond County Health Department for stepping up to take on the role of vaccinating eligible members of the community against COVID-19,” John Jackson, president of the Southern Region and Administrator of Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond, said. “This has been some incredible effort in a short period of time to develop this process. Both organizations are working hand in hand to get the vaccine to the most vulnerable members of our community.”
If you are 75 or older and would like to be vaccinated, please call 910-417-3030 to schedule your appointment. Please be prepared to leave a voicemail with your name, date of birth, email address and a phone number where you can be reached. A representative of the hospital or health department will call you back within 72 hours to schedule your appointment.
COVID-19 vaccination requires two doses. The second dose will be given 28 days after your first dose. FirstHealth and the Health Department will schedule your second vaccine at the time you receive the first one. In Richmond County, all residents will receive the Moderna vaccine.
Please be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes after you have received the vaccine. All vaccinated persons will be monitored for any side-effects by hospital personnel.
FirstHealth and Richmond Health Department officials stressed that vaccine supplies are extremely limited. Officials stated they have the capacity to vaccinate more people but are limited to the weekly allotment of vaccine received from the State. FirstHealth and the Richmond Health Department will continue to follow guidelines from the NC DHHS and will begin to vaccinate additional populations beyond the 75+ group once the State moves to the next phase.
