Low on people to vaccinate, health department urges registrations

Published 5:38 pm Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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The Virginia Department of Health is asking anybody in vaccine groups 1A, 1B or 1C to register now to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“There are a lot of vaccines available, and we need more people to register to be vaccinated,” said Larry Hill, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health. “Our lists are starting to run low on registrations.”

Hill noted many opportunities on the Southside and the Peninsula in the next few days and weeks. People who register through the state’s website or phone number will receive communication when it is their turn and be told where and when to go.

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The website is www.vaccinate.virginia.gov. People without internet access can call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

Phase 1A includes the following:

  • Healthcare personnel
  • Residents of long-term care facilities

Phase 1B includes the following:

  • Frontline essential workers including police, fire and hazmat; corrections and homeless shelters; childcare and preK-12 teachers and staff, public and private; food and agriculture, including veterinarians; manufacturing; grocery stores; public transit; mail carriers, public and private; officials needed to maintain continuity of government; clergy and faith leaders; janitorial/cleaning.
  • People age 65 and over
  • People age 16-64 with an underlying medical condition, some of which include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases, dementia or other neurological conditions, diabetes, Down syndrome, heart conditions, HIV infection, a weakened immune system, liver disease, overweigh or obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease or thalassemia, current or former smoker, solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, stroke or cerebrovascular disease and substance use disorders.
  • People living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps

Phase 1C includes other essential workers, including those in energy, water, wastewater, waste removal, housing and construction, food service, transportation and logistics, higher education faculty and staff, finance, information technology and communication, media, legal services, public safety including engineers, other public health workers, and barbers, stylists and hairdressers.