Vaccinate Roanoke Information Center

The City of Roanoke, in coordination with the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts through the Virginia Department of Health, strongly urge everyone to help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Roanoke Public Libraries Pilot Program Partnership with VDH: Distribution of Free COVID-19 Antigen At-Home Test Kits:

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently announced its partnership with 18 libraries and library systems across the Commonwealth to distribute COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits at no cost. Roanoke Public Libraries is among the participating libraries. Its library branches will begin distributing the kits starting Nov. 17, at all six branches during regular business hours through the pilot program deadline of Dec. 31.

The program is designed to increase access to COVID-19 testing, especially among rural, remote, under-resourced communities, and other vulnerable populations. Individuals can pick up a virtually guided Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Card Home Test from the library branch, use it in the privacy of their home, and receive digital test results within 15 minutes using the eMed digital platform.

At-home test kits will be distributed curbside, and residents are required to wear face masks when picking up the kits. Individuals who are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 must have a family member or friend conduct the pick-up on their behalf, per VDH standards. Residents should call the respective library branch when they are at the curb of the location, so that staff may to come out to distribute the kit.

Listed below are the library branch locations and contact information:

  • Main Branch: 706 S. Jefferson St., 540-853-2473
  • Melrose Branch Library: 2502 Melrose Ave. NW, Suite D, 540-853-2648
  • Belmont Branch Library: 1101 Morningside St. SE, 540-853-2640
  • Williamson Road Branch Library: 3837 Williamson Rd., 540-853-2340
  • Gainsboro Branch Library: 15 Patton Ave. NW, 540-853-2540
  • Raleigh Court Branch Library, 2112 Grandin Rd. SW, 540-853-2240

For more information, please visit this website (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself/covid-19-testing/stacc/# ) or email [email protected].  

COVID-19 Health Equity Rolling Grant Proposal Submission Information:

Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) are seeking proposals from a diverse array of organizations to support its goal of ensuring greater equity and access to COVID-19 vaccines for those disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The Request for Proposal (RFP) from RCAHD is publicly available to any and all who have the capacity and the interest to support the Health District in pursuing its goal. The RFP contains the information needed to understand the purpose of RCAHD’s funding opportunity and how to align your organization’s project ideas with the health district’s goals and requirements. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District/HHS, or the U.S. Government. 

  • The total funding available to community partners:
    • Roanoke City Health District: $221,215

COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment and Clinic Information:

Vaccines are helping to reduce the number of new cases and their severity we are seeing locally. As more residents are vaccinated and as community members continue to use precautions such as wearing masks when in public, fewer cases of COVID-19 are being reported, and the number of people being hospitalized due to COVID has decreased. If you have not been vaccinated, please consider helping us fight this virus by protecting yourself and those who are not eligible to receive the vaccine. Call the Roanoke City-Alleghany Health District hotline at 540-613-6597, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. More information can be found here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.

  • Learn how to get your shot by clicking here or by calling: 1-877-VAX-INVA (1-877-829-4682), 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (language translation available, TTY users dial 7-1-1)
  • Entérate cómo conseguir tu vacuna en Vaccinate.Virginia.gov o llamando al: 1-877-829-4682 de 8 a.m. a 8 p.m. Traducción disponible en tu idioma. Usuarios de TTY pueden marcar al 7-1-1
  • For more information about signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
  • Follow the Roanoke City Alleghany Health District Facebook page.
  • COVID-19 Vaccination information from the CDC, click here.

Pfizer Booster COVID-19 Vaccines for Eligible Residents:

The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District is now offering COVID-19 vaccine boosters for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to eligible residents. This new, interim guidance allows for individuals who are at the highest risk for COVID-19 to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot to help increase their protection, including those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings. Please note that residents will be turned away from the clinic if they do not meet the booster qualifications.

  • A full list of Pfizer booster qualifications is available here.
  • Learn more about upcoming booster vaccination sites and information here.

City to Conclude Re-Opening Facilities to the Public:

Based upon the current vaccination rate for the adult population in Roanoke exceeding 50%, and current guidance from the CDC and Governor Northam, all City libraries and recreation centers will fully open on Tuesday, June 15. In addition, Wiley Drive will be fully re-opened to vehicular traffic to enable greater access to Smith Park, on that date. As of June 15, the use of face coverings will no longer be required in City facilities for those who have been fully vaccinated. And the City Council Chamber will resume open access for the public with the City Council meeting on July 6.


Equity and the COVID-19 Vaccine Across the City:

The City of Roanoke and our partners at the Virginia Department of Health Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts realized that we need to remove barriers so that the COVID-19 vaccine is more accessible to some of our most vulnerable residents. 

We know that our African American residents as well as our Spanish speaking residents have been affected disproportionately with COVID-19 compared to the rest of our community. The City and VDH teamed up with our equity working groups to help begin to solve this problem. 

On February 17 & 19, 2021, the City and VDH partnered with High St. Baptist Church and Roanoke City Public Schools to host two small community COVID-19 vaccination clinics. During the clinics, 200 residents were vaccinated.

Check out the videos from High Street Baptist Church and Breckenridge Middle School.

Carilion Clinic's Dr. Paul Skolnik shares his insights about the COVID-19 vaccine: 

COVID-19 Resources for Spanish-Speaking and Limited English Proficient Populations:

Primera fase de vacunas de COVID-19:

  • Personal de atención de la salud, residentes de instalaciones de cuidado a largo plazo
  • Trabajadores esenciales (educación, comida/agricultura, utilidades, policía, bomberos, oficiales de correcciones, trabajadores de transporte)
  • Adultos con condiciones médicos de alto riesgo o mayor de la edad de 65

El departamento de salud está trabajando diligentemente para vacunar nuestra comunidad tan rápidamente y eficientemente como posible.  Pero, el gobierno federal ha establecido un orden de personas quien van a recibir las vacunas.  Para recibir la información más actual de las vacunas,