Old Shopko converted into COVID-19 vaccination site in Spanish Fork

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Utah County Health Department has transformed an old Shopko into a COVID-19 vaccination site.

Photos of the site were posted on social media with the following statement:

We've helped thousands and thousands of people so far, and look forward to safely helping thousands more!

The Utah County Health Department is following the vaccine-phased guidelines laid out by the Utah Department of Health. The most up-to-date information on the state’s roll-out plan can be found here.

Those 16+ with any of the following medical conditions are eligible:

• Asplenia including splenectomy or a spleen dysfunction
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher (this is also called Class III or severe obesity)
• Chronic heart disease (not hypertension) including chronic heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, and severe valve or congenital heart disease
• Chronic liver disease including chronic hepatitis B or C, alcohol-related liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis, or primary sclerosing cholangitis or hemochromatosis
• Cancer diagnosed within the last 5 years that began in the blood, bone marrow, or cells in the immune system. This type of cancer is called hematologic cancer (such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).
• Cancer diagnosed within the last 1 year that didn’t begin in the blood or bone marrow. This type of cancer is called non-hematologic cancer. (excluding basal and squamous cell cancer diagnoses)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood, bone marrow, or organ transplant; HIV; long-term use of corticosteroids; or other medicines that weaken the immune system
• Neurologic conditions that impair respiratory function, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis,
• Parkinson’s disease, progressive cerebellar disease, and quadriplegia or hemiplegia
• Receiving dialysis for severe kidney disease
• Receiving immunosuppression therapy
• Sickle cell disease
• Severe chronic respiratory disease (other than asthma) including severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosing lung disease, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
• Solid-organ transplant recipient
• Stage 4 or stage 5 chronic kidney disease
• Stroke and dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular, or frontotemporal)
• Uncontrolled diabetes with an A1c of 9% or higher

Utahns do not need to get a doctor’s note to schedule your vaccine. Utah County will only receive enough vaccines for those who are eligible with these conditions right now. Please wait your turn. These individuals are at the very highest risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 and the county needs to make sure they receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

Patients who do not meet these criteria need to wait until those at the highest risk have been vaccinated, the county website stated.