New group of Virgins who can receive COVID-19 vaccine from Monday

BLACKSBURG, Va. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Virginia is around the corner.

From Monday, parts of the Commonwealth will move into phase 1B of its vaccination plan. It opens the COVID-19 vaccine for people over 75 and workers in essential high-contact occupations, including:

• First responders, including police officers, firefighters and hazmat workers
• Workers at correctional facilities or homeless shelters
• Teachers and child care workers
• Food and agricultural workers
• Grocery store workers
• Public transport workers
• Mail carriers, which include both the U.S. Postal Service and private postal services

“We want to be efficient and have large-scale vaccination numbers,” said Dr. Noelle Bissell, director of health in New River Valley, said. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a long tunnel, so don’t get excited yet.”

Although the list of people who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine is relatively exclusive, Bissell hopes to open it to everyone as soon as possible.

“Our goal is hopefully by late spring that we can all be vaccinated in the summer, or at least,” Bissell said. ‘It’s a real-time thing; it’s amazing that the vaccine is being rolled out so quickly. ”

The new vaccinations come amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Virginia. The state has recorded more than 5,000 cases every day for the past five days, including a record 5,789 cases on Saturday.

“The vaccine is more important now than ever,” Bissell said. “If we can interrupt the broadcast, we will see the end of the pandemic.”

More information about the New River Valley vaccination plan is available at this link.