CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Fort Campbell will be offering a COVID-19 vaccination day to all TRICARE beneficiaries ages 16 and older on Saturday, May 1.
“The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be proven safe and effective. A CDC report found both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines reduced the risk of infection by 80 percent after the first dose and 90 percent following the second dose,” Col. Patrick T. Birchfield, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital commander, said in a news release.
To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine appointment at Fort Campbell go to the hospital’s webpage at https://blanchfield.tricare.mil and select either the Dose 1 COVID-19 vaccine or Dose 2 COVID-19 vaccine link, depending on which vaccine dose is needed.
These links will open a form, requesting the following information: DOD ID number, first and last name, and contact information, including an email address. The DOD ID number is on military, dependent and most retiree ID cards.
Minors ages 16 and 17 will need a parent or legal guardian to accompany them at the vaccination site to sign required vaccination paperwork. No other visitors should accompany anyone receiving the vaccine unless a medical attendant is required; however, couples may schedule individual appointments during the same time block.
Explaining the data
On Friday, the COVID-19 data as reported by the Tennessee Department of Health seemed to spike to 483 new cases, which would make that new case count the most the county has seen yet.
However, Montgomery County Health Department Director Joey Smith said there was an explanation for that.
“The data comes from a lot of clinics and physician offices. If the count ever goes up a lot and the active cases went up just a little, it’s usually where TDH received the number of positives results from outside clinics after they have recovered,” Smith said.
He added that it is rare for the positives to spike so much due to a lag in reporting, and that it’s only happened a handful of times over the last 13 1/2 months of the pandemic.
COVID-19 numbers
Here are the Montgomery County numbers updated on the county’s dashboard for Monday, April 19:
- 19,623 total confirmed cases since March 8, 2020
- 557 active cases
- 303 total hospitalizations
- 224 total deaths
- 117,616 total negative lab results
Here are the CMCSS numbers last updated on April 18, according to their dashboard:
- 37 active student cases
- 415 students in quarantine
- 66 students excluded
- No data on COVID-related student absences
- 18 active employee cases
- 2 employees excluded
- 10 employees in quarantine
- 66 COVID-related employee absences
Here are the Austin Peay State University numbers last updated on April 18, according to their dashboard:
- 11 students with confirmed cases
- 22 students in quarantine
- 3 staff and faculty members with confirmed cases
- 11 staff and faculty members in quarantine
How to get the COVID-19 vaccine
Health Department: To register for a vaccination appointment online through the county health department, visit https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/vaccine-phases/. Click Montgomery County on the map, click “Make an Appointment” to register, then enter the name and contact information to be notified of the appointment date, time and location as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
Individuals who do not have access to the internet should call 866-442-5301 to make an appointment.
Fort Campbell: Blanchfield Army Community Hospital has opened COVID-19 vaccination to all TRICARE Prime beneficiaries age 16 and older. Beneficiaries may schedule appointments through a link on the hospital’s webpage at blanchfield.tricare.mil.
Appointments are required, and only those who are scheduled to receive the vaccine may enter. One escort may be authorized for those requiring additional assistance. Child care may be available through the Fort Campbell Family Child Care program for parents with young children.
All other pharmacies and clinics: Visit Clarksville Now’s updated list of all the locations offering the vaccine to the public in Montgomery County, and how to register at each location.
How to get a COVID-19 test
Free COVID-19 testing by the Montgomery County Health Department has moved back to the Health Department office at 350 Pageant Lane. Individuals who do not have health insurance can schedule an appointment for COVID-19 testing by calling 931-648-5787. Tests are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Montgomery County residents 18 or older may pick up a self-administered test at no cost Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You must have a smartphone to pick up a self-administered test. The COVID-19 tests are available in many other locations and can be found on this website.
Three Walgreens locations in Clarksville offer self-administered, drive-thru COVID-19 tests. The location at 2109 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. offers the Rapid Diagnostic COVID-19 test, and the locations at 1954 Madison Street and 1460 Fort Campbell Blvd. offer the PCR Diagnostic Test. To make an appointment at Walgreens, visit their website.