Meridian officials to assist with vaccine appointments

MERIDIAN, Miss. - Citizens of Meridian will now have the opportunity to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments through the COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Campaign. Mayor Percy Bland announced in a press conference that city officials will be assisting those to secure appointments beginning tomorrow.

“We have put together a team of folks that we feel like are going to be able to help more people get vaccinated. We know the more people that get vaccinated, the healthier this city is going to be and the healthier they’re going to be and their families.”

You can set up your appointment at the Velma Young Center and the Meridian Activity Center from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month of March. Mayor Bland says they are working on more transportation for those who need a ride to be vaccinated.

“We’re going to mobilize as many people as we can after that to possibly be transported to get their shots because it’s that important to our city. We do have some transportation with the city, but we’re going to have to partner with people to get those shots.”

Once appointments are made, residents can look forward to receiving their first Moderna shot by late March and early April at the Lauderdale County Health Department. With the many shots available in the county, Bland urges residents to take advantage.

“Most counties don’t have any shots available so people are coming to our county to get vaccinated, but we need more people in Meridian and Lauderdale County to get vaccinated so when we start sending out public health policies as it relates to masks and things, with some real knowledge knowing we have more people vaccinated.”

If you're not able to make it to one of the facilities, call the Mississippi COVID-19 hotline at (601) 965-4071 or (877) 978-6453.