Starting May 4, the Forsyth County Department of Public Health will conduct its first dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the Public Health Department, 799 Highland Ave. Those who received their first dose at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Education Building will receive their second dose there.

May 1 will the be the last day first doses are given at the fairgrounds. The move from the mass vaccination site at the fairgrounds to a smaller one at the health department is the result of a drop in vaccine demand locally and throughout the country. Forsyth Public Health will continue to offer regular vaccination appointments and will also focus more on its community vaccination events.

Currently, less than 30% of Forsyth County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect people from the virus, the majority of the population needs to be vaccinated. For two-dose vaccines, like Pfizer and Moderna, individuals need to receive both doses for it to be fully effective.

Appointments will continue to be available for vaccinations at Bit.Ly/FCNCCovidVaccine or by calling 336-360-5260 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Vaccination clinic hours at the Health Department will be Monday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday 4-8 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. Walk-ups are welcome until an hour before the clinic closes. Vaccinations are free and no ID or insurance is needed. Second-dose appointments will be scheduled onsite after vaccination and will also be at the Health Department.

Second doses will be administered at the fairgrounds until May 24 for those who received their first dose there. Public Health officials said the fairgrounds has been great site, capable of vaccinating well over 1,000 people a day. They praised the partnership with the City of Winston-Salem that made the site possible and look forward to continuing to work with community partners for vaccine outreach events.  

Public Health’s next community vaccination event is Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at New Hope United Methodist Church, 5125 Shattalon Drive. Appointments can be made at http://bit.ly/newhope51 or by calling 336-692-3085. Walk-ups will also be accepted.