Collierville, Germantown and the Health Department have collaborated to provide vaccinations at Germantown Baptist Church beginning in February, according to suburban officials.

James Lewellen, Collierville town administrator, told aldermen during a work session Thursday the town is working with Germantown to open a vaccination site at the church on the north side of Poplar near the Germantown-Collierville border.

“It is important for the public to understand,” Germantown and Collierville said in a press release, “that while the church is providing the location and staff from Germantown and Collierville are planning to operate the site, all questions related to scheduling a vaccination appointment must be directed to the Shelby County Health Department at (901) 222-SHOT. Municipal and church staff are not participating in scheduling and cannot provide information regarding vaccine availability.”

Tents are expected to go up by next Tuesday.

Thursday afternoon, the Health Department issued a statement regarding the Germantown location.

“The Health Department is looking at many potential vaccination sites around Shelby County,” Joan Carr, Shelby County Health Department public information officer, said. “The Germantown site is only one under consideration and there are still details that need to be worked out before a site can be opened there.”

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said the county is working on a memorandum of understanding with the church. In addition to the Germantown site, the county is looking at a site in Whitehaven. He said having a location in places like Whitehaven and Germantown “meet a need.”

The use of Germantown Baptist was approved by the deacons of the church. It is the first in Shelby County outside of Memphis.

“Staff has worked (around) the clock for weeks to put a plan in place that allows Germantown and Collierville to be a part of the solution and to help put an end to the pandemic that continues to impact the health of our businesses and neighbors,” Germantown City Administrator Patrick Lawton said in the release.

Opinion: Suburbs deserve vaccine locations too

‘It’s been quick,” Lewellen said of the collaboration with Germantown, later adding: “We are planning for what happens. If it’s a runaway success, can we handle it?”

There are still many unknowns regarding the hours and days the site will operate as it will share in the county’s vaccines. With President Joe Biden planning to roll out vaccines quicker, that could also trickle down to Shelby County’s share.

“We are prepared to do whatever we need to do, but the Health Department will take the lead,” Lewellen said.