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NNS Takes COVID-19 Vaccines to Shipbuilders

Published May 4, 2021

For three days this week, Newport News Shipbuilding employees who want a COVID-19 vaccination won’t have to leave the shipyard to get it, and two lucky winners will receive a prize.

Mobile vaccination sites will be up and running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary, and the sites will be at the following locations:

  • Wednesday: North Yard, CMAF, first floor conference room and break area
  • Thursday: South Yard, Bldg. 4633-3, HME Room (southeast of Dry Dock 1)
  • Friday: Mid Yard, Bldg. 4931-1 Assembly Room (east of MOF)

The medical staff at QuadMed, which operates the HII Family Health Center, will administer the vaccines. Since February, QuadMed has vaccinated thousands of NNS employees at the NNS Vaccination Site, which is located at the Old Apprentice School Gym. Drawings for an Apple Watch and an NNS swag bag will be held on Friday. All shipbuilders who have either been vaccinated through the NNS program or registered their vaccination on UPoint will be eligible to win.

Vaccination efforts will continue at the Old Apprentice School Gym through Friday, May 28. Vaccinations will then transition to the HII Family Health Center.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines offered by NNS require two injections, and employees are paid up to 1.5 hours each time they receive a dose of the vaccine. Pay will not be offered once the transition to the health center occurs.

“We have plenty of vaccine available, and with summer vacations and travel coming up, this is the perfect time to get protected from COVID-19,” said Dr. Steve Apostoles, NNS medical director. “Boosting vaccination levels throughout the shipyard takes us one step closer to continuing our mission-critical work without the need for masks, social distancing and other protections.”

Vaccines are not mandatory at NNS, but they are highly encouraged as a way for shipbuilders to safeguard their own health as well as other employees.