MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The City of Memphis said Monday it is moving to Phase 3 of COVID-19 vaccinations, which opens eligibility to everyone 45 and older.
The city also says vaccinations for everyone older than 16 will be open Friday, March 26.
The city said it has 8,000 appointments available this week. You can sign up here: https://covid19.memphistn.gov/
Covid-19 vaccinations should be available to “essentially everyone” in Shelby County next week, Dr. David Sweat with the Shelby County Health Department told county commissioners Monday.
Earlier Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced all Tennesseans over the age of 16 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting by April 5.
Last Friday, the mayors of both Shelby County and Memphis said they had requested the state’s permission to move ahead with vaccinating all adults. However, it was not immediately clear when that status would take effect.
Lee posted on his social media accounts Monday that eligibility would be open by April 5.
“As we’ve promised, we’re able to expand our COVID-19 vaccine eligibility as vaccine supplies
have increased and we’ve made substantial progress in protecting those most at risk of serious
illness and death from COVID-19,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey. “Tennessee will now open COVID-19 vaccination to all eligible adults well ahead of the federal goal of May 1.”
To date, the state has received 2.9 million doses of the vaccine, with more than 311,000 arrived this week. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine should arrived the following week, increasing the state’s supply by 30 percent.
Tennessee is currently distributing the vaccine to health care workers, first responders, senior citizens and people age 16 and older who have high-risk health conditions — including cancer, hypertension, obesity and pregnancy — as well as caregivers and household residents of medically fragile children. This also includes those over the age of 55.
Tennesseans should check with their counties to learn more about eligibility and registration. Furthermore, residents in the state’s metropolitan areas may have different instructions.
