DANVILLE, Va. – Effective immediately, the Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at the Danville Mall will no longer accept walk-ins patients without an appointment.

Students from as far away as the University of Virginia in Charlottesville have driven to Danville as word spread to college campuses that the Danville CVC was accepting walk-ins because of an over-supply of the coronavirus vaccine. Since opening last week, the Danville operation has averaged administering about half of the 3,000 shot goal set by the state.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management-run clinic is funded through FEMA and employees have worked to accommodate people traveling to Danville without an appointment. But that will change immediately due to a lack of vaccine. The State has issued a press release urging individuals without an appointment or invitation not to travel to any of the CVC sites.

Danville City Manager Ken Larking said anyone traveling to Danville without an appointment and hoping to receive a shot risks being turned away due to lack of vaccine. “We are discouraging people from just showing up,” said Larking. “The State has adjusted the supply of vaccines in Danville to match the Phase 1 demand in our area, so there is a good chance people traveling to Danville from outside our area for a vaccine will not get a shot.”

FEMA has provided $179 million to Virginia to support the vaccine distribution. Three other community vaccination centers have opened in Virginia in Portsmouth, Petersburg and Prince William County. Others are planned in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Everyone who lives or works in Virginia should pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccine by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682). Additional languages are available, and TTY users should call 7-1-1.