On Monday, March 29, 2021, the county health department said it would shift its COVID-19 vaccine effort toward eligible students and other groups where the virus was still spreading. The county had seven school outbreaks at once, the most since the pandemic began. Most were linked to sports.
The next day, Tuesday, March 30, clinics were held at all eight Kanawha County public high schools for students 16 and older. Students needed a signed permission slip from a parent. Clinics for students were also planned at Charleston Catholic High School and the University of Charleston. That week, vaccines were also offered at the Roosevelt Community Center for four mainly African American community groups.
The health department and the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority ran the school clinics with Kanawha County Schools, CAMC, West Virginia Health Right and the Charleston Fire Department. On the first day, 919 students got a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, the only one approved for 16- and 17-year-olds at the time.
Residents 65 and older who still needed a vaccine could still call for a same-day appointment.