Pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic set

Published 11:44 pm Wednesday, January 19, 2022

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The Franklin Farmers Market, located at 210 S. Main St., will be hosting a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic Saturday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m.-noon.

“It will be all three vaccines and boosters for ages 12 and up,” Market Manager Bob Campbell said.

In addition to being the market manager, Campbell is part of the Southeast Virginia Health and Wellness Coalition.

“Through (the coalition), I was able to connect with the Department of Health and convince them to come in and do this pop-up clinic,” he said.

The clinic was originally scheduled to be part of a larger Winter Market event, but because the forecast predicts inclement wintry weather for Saturday, Campbell is canceling all aspects of the event except for the pop-up clinic and the presence of a limited number of vendors.

“We’re rescheduling our Winter Market for February the 12th,” he said. 

Elements that would have been part of the Jan. 22 event that are moving to Feb. 12 include a full complement of vendors and, for the kids, the presence of Elsa from the “Frozen” animated Disney film series. Elsa will be portrayed at the Feb. 12 event by Lorraine Whitehead.

“She has a nonprofit that she runs; she does a reading initiative with the local school system,” Campbell said of Whitehead. “And then on the side, she dresses up as Disney princesses and different kinds of things that kids will love at events.” 

Campbell noted that since he has more time to plan the Feb. 12 Winter Market, “I’m going to try to add some other things to it as well.”

He explained how the Winter Market idea came into being.

“It’s a dream that I had and something I’m going to be doing this year because I’ve got the backing of the city,” he said. “I’m going to have an event market every month.”

“Winter Market” was his event idea for January that will now work for February.

He made a point to give credit to Franklin Parks and Recreation Director Sammara Green-Bailey for helping make the monthly event markets a reality.

“She has been instrumental in helping me broaden the vision of the market,” he said.