Inyo County COVID-19 vaccine available to those 75 & older* at NIHD beginning Thursday, January 14th.

(*Subject to change from 75 to 65 and older based on recent announcement from state.)

Northern Inyo Healthcare District will begin vaccinating Inyo and Mono residents age 75 and older this week by appointment. This move transitions Inyo County to the first phase of immunizing the general public against the coronavirus.

The first vaccinations begin Thursday, Jan. 14, starting at 1 p.m. under the guidance of the Rural Health Clinic. These vaccines are available on a first-call, first-scheduled appointment basis with an active waiting list. Please note the number of available appointments is based on the amount of vaccine available from Inyo County and will vary weekly.

There is no charge for the vaccination or its administration. You do not need to be a Northern Inyo Healthcare District patient to qualify for a vaccination.

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT BEGINNING THURSDAY, JANUARY 14TH

To make an appointment, please call (760) 873-2078, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., beginning on Thursday, January 14. This unique telephone line is not staffed after-hours or on weekends, nor does it feature voice mail, so please make sure to call for assistance in the hours listed.

The vaccinations will be given in the front lobby of the two-story Northern Inyo Hospital. Consent forms will be made available on www.nih.org/vaccinate for those wishing to print and complete them in advance. Otherwise, the forms will be available on site. Each vaccination session is estimated to take 15-20 minutes.

Those arriving for vaccination are asked to:

• Please arrive no more than 10 minutes in advance of your appointment and park in designated Patient Parking in front of the hospital.
• Please wear a mask to enter the hospital. A staff member will greet you, take your temperature, ask basic COVID screening questions, and direct you to the vaccination area.
• Staff will confirm your appointment and check your identification. Please bring proof of identification to show you are an Inyo County or Mono County resident. A California Driver’s License or ID is preferred.
• After receiving the vaccination, staff will direct you to a waiting area where you will need to wait 15 minutes under evaluation. After that time passes, staff will give you a vaccination card that shows your second appointment.

When scheduling an appointment, staff will advise which vaccine you will receive. The Pfizer/BioNTech requires two doses, delivered 21 days apart. The Moderna vaccine also requires two doses, 28 days apart. NIHD will schedule both appointments at the same time. Please be prepared to commit to the necessary dates.

Northern Inyo Healthcare District remains committed to delivering quality healthcare during the pandemic. NIHD urges the community to protect one another by following the precautions outlined since the start of the pandemic. Wear a mask, wash or sanitize your hands frequently, and maintain social distance as needed.