Norfolk city employees help seniors, residents without internet access to preregister for COVID-19 vaccine

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk seniors and those without computer access can receive in-person help pre-registering for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Wednesday.

From February 10 until Friday, February 26 six recreation centers will open through the weekdays from 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist eligible Norfolk Phase 1b residents. No appointment is necessary.

The following recreation centers will take part of the Vaccinate Norfolk Preregistration effort:

1. Berkley Neighborhood Multi-Service Center, 121 W. Liberty Street
2. Sherwood Forest Recreation Center, 4537 Little John Drive
3. Norfolk Fitness & Wellness Center, 7300 Newport Avenue
4. Park Place Multi-Purpose Center, 606 W. 29^th Street
5. East Oceanview Recreation Center, 9520 E. 20^th Bay St.

Employees will help residents enter their information directly into the online preregistration form.

Each resident will receive a preregistration confirmation card with the date of their preregistration, and a flyer with important FAQs. City employees will not provide medical advice.

Residents are encouraged to wear a mask and practice physical distancing while in the facilities. Hand sanitizer will be provided on site.

City employees are the voices behind the Vaccine Call Center and have been preregistering residents since January 25 when Norfolk transitioned to Phase 1b.

As of February 4, officials say more than 21,000 Norfolk residents have preregistered online and over the phone to receive the vaccine.

In the city's initial list, Vivian C. Mason Technology/Teen Center located at 700 E. Olney Road was originally included as a site that would participate in the preregistration effort. On Tuesday, city officials said due to the level of youth programming taking place and the space needed to safely conduct preregistration, Vivian C. Mason was removed from the list.

Staff will evaluate operations at all locations, and adjustments will be made as needed.

Additionally, city officials want to emphasize that these sites are not vaccination clinics and employees will not give medical advice.

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