U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Virgin Islands Department of Health is extending COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to insured individuals and strongly encourages residents, especially those planning to travel, to get vaccinated before the CDC’s Bridge Access Program concludes at the end of August.

The Bridge Access Program has been a crucial temporary measure, offering free updated COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. The program was established following the end of the federal COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program, which provided free vaccines until September 2023.

As part of an Immunization Awareness Month community engagement effort, the department’s Community Health clinics territorywide are also offering the vaccine to insured adults at no cost.

“I am urging residents, particularly those planning to travel, to get the COVID-19 vaccine and take advantage of the Bridge Access Program before it concludes in August,” said VI Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “The vaccine provides the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and helps prevent its spread to others.”

On St. Thomas, the Community Health Clinic at Schneider Hospital is administering vaccines from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-774-7477.

On St. Croix, the Community Health Clinic, located on the second floor of the former Caribe Home Center in Castle Coakley, offers vaccines from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-712-0131.

On St. John, residents can contact the Morris F. deCastro Clinic at 340-779-4794 for vaccination dates and times.

“Whether you are insured or not, all adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through our Community Health Clinics for the remainder of August,” Commissioner Encarnacion emphasized.

The commissioner also highlighted that the department’s Epidemiology Division has noted a slight uptick in reported COVID-19 cases. The Territory has 16 active cases: 13 on St. Thomas, 3 on St. Croix, and none on St. John.

For weekly updates on COVID-19 cases in the Territory, residents can view the USVI Epidemiology Data Dashboard at www.doh.vi.gov .

– The Virgin Islands Department of Health is extending COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to insured individuals and strongly encourages residents, especially those planning to travel, to get vaccinated before the CDC’s Bridge Access Program concludes at the end of August.

The Bridge Access Program has been a crucial temporary measure, offering free updated COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. The program was established following the end of the federal COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program, which provided free vaccines until September 2023.

As part of an Immunization Awareness Month community engagement effort, the department’s Community Health clinics territorywide are also offering the vaccine to insured adults at no cost.

“I am urging residents, particularly those planning to travel, to get the COVID-19 vaccine and take advantage of the Bridge Access Program before it concludes in August,” said VI Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “The vaccine provides the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and helps prevent its spread to others.”

On St. Thomas, the Community Health Clinic at Schneider Hospital is administering vaccines from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-774-7477.

On St. Croix, the Community Health Clinic, located on the second floor of the former Caribe Home Center in Castle Coakley, offers vaccines from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 340-712-0131.

On St. John, residents can contact the Morris F. deCastro Clinic at 340-779-4794 for vaccination dates and times.

“Whether you are insured or not, all adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through our Community Health Clinics for the remainder of August,” Commissioner Encarnacion emphasized.

The commissioner also highlighted that the department’s Epidemiology Division has noted a slight uptick in reported COVID-19 cases. The Territory has 16 active cases: 13 on St. Thomas, 3 on St. Croix, and none on St. John.

For weekly updates on COVID-19 cases in the Territory, residents can view the USVI Epidemiology Data Dashboard at www.doh.vi.gov .