From the mayor’s office:
“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Health, led by Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, announced updates on the vaccination registration process in Washington, DC.
Beginning next week, the district will transition to a pre-registration system to make vaccinations. Under the new system, individuals can provide their information to DC Health through a pre-registration website or by calling the district’s call center. As appointments are made available, individuals who have pre-registered will receive an email, phone call and / or text message warning them that they have the opportunity to make a vaccination. Equity will continue to be a top priority, and DC Health will continue to make appointments for residents living in priority zip codes.
This week, the district will continue to use the vaccinate.dc.gov appointment portal and call center. DC Health and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) are working with Microsoft to ensure a better user experience. Improvements include increased server availability for the portal and the addition of a “waiting room” that allows only 3,000 users to access the appointment questionnaire at a time. To enhance the user experience and increase accessibility, the CAPTCHA was removed from the vaccinate.dc.gov questionnaire this week.
Appointments will open Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. for DC residents. For this week alone, the vaccine appointments will not be available to members of the workforce groups.
On Thursday 4 March at 09:00, About 5 750 appointments are available for the following DC residents who live in preferred zip codes:
- DC residents who live in preferred postal codes and are 65 years and older
- Residents of DC who live in preferred postal codes and are 18-64 years old and with a qualifying medical condition
On Friday 5 March at 09:00, About 5 750 appointments are available for the following DC residents in any zip code:
- DC residents 65 years and older
- DC residents 18-64 with a qualifying medical condition
Residents can expect to see several new vaccination sites on the portal this week. These new sites will serve as high-capacity sites where the Janssen / Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine will be administered. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the United States. While users will be able to see which vaccine is being administered, DC Health chooses that all available vaccines have been proven effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and the death of COVID-19. Residents are strongly encouraged to take the first vaccine at their disposal.
Qualifying medical conditions include: Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases; Bone marrow and solid organ transplantation; Cancer; Cerebrovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Congenital heart disease; Diabetes mellitus; Heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy; HIV; Hypertension; Immuno-compromised State; Inherited metabolic disorders; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Liver disease; Neurological conditions; Obesity, BMI ≥ 30 kg / m2; Pregnancy; Severe genetic disorders; Sickle cell disease; and Thalassemia.
Residents who are unsure whether they qualify for the vaccine based on a qualifying medical condition should contact their healthcare provider.
At the moment, appointments booked via the portal and call center are available for individuals 18 years and older. Residents of the district who are 16 or 17 years old and who have a qualifying medical condition and are not an existing patient of the Children’s National Hospital or HSC can pre – register for a vaccination at the Children’s National Hospital through the link to follow on coronavirus.dc. gov / vaccine.
The priority postal codes are focused in wards 5, 7 and 8 and include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593. Priority postal codes include the parts of the city where residents are excessively affected. according to COVID-19, including number of cases and mortality rate. Wards 5, 7 and 8 are preferred because they have the lowest percentage of residents who are 65 years and older and who have received at least one dose of vaccine.
As of this week, the following populations are now eligible for the vaccine in Washington, DC: individuals working in health care settings; members of the fire and emergency services department; residents of long-term and intermediate care facilities and residents of community residential facilities / group homes; DC residents 65 years of age and older; individuals experiencing homelessness; members of the Metropolitan Police Station; Continuity of district government staff; Employees and residents of the Department of Corrections; teachers and staff who work or will be personally working at a traditional or public charter school; childminders and teachers and staff at independent schools in DC; individuals working in a grocery store environment; outreach workers in health, human and social services; individuals working in manufacturing; individuals working in food packaging; DC residents 16-64 years old with qualifying medical conditions.
Updated vaccine health guidelines
DC Health also updated some clues this week for people who have been fully vaccinated. Updated coronavirus.dc.gov/phasetwo guidance documents:
- Travel guide
- The first steps for employers without healthcare when employees are positive about COVID-19
- Guidance for close contacts of someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19
- Guidance for quarantine after exposure to COVID-19
As studies continue on the ability of people who have been fully vaccinated to transmit the virus, individuals who are vaccinated should continue to wear masks, wear social distance and practice good hygiene. As indicated in the updated clue documents, persons who have been fully vaccinated and have no COVID-19 symptoms need to be quarantined for 90 days after their final vaccination after close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. is one example of how daily life will adapt and improve as more individuals are vaccinated. ‘