This is why Virginia’s effects of coronavirus vaccines are moving slower than expected

ROANOKE, Va. – We need to do better.

This is the message from one local health director who addresses shortages and confusion over the distribution of COVID vaccines.

As many health districts move into priority group 1b, dr. Cynthia Morrow, director of Roanoke City Health and Alleghany District, said they are facing up.

[Virginians 65 and older, here’s how you can request a coronavirus vaccine]

‘We realize that many people are scared, they are frustrated. Our numbers confirm this. “The fear and frustration is understandable and we are also frustrated that we do not have the vaccine supply and also do not have the infrastructure to vaccinate everyone at the same time,” said Morrow.

10 News raised the concerns to Virginia vaccination coordinator, dr. Danny Avula, sent, who said we are dependent on the offer of the federal government.

It is then up to VDH to distribute the doses across Virginia, based on the population size and infrastructure needed to vaccinate people.

“We have about 110,000 doses coming in every week and not everyone is going to get what they ask for,” Avula explained.

The numbers are not expected to improve until production accelerates and more vaccine options are on the market, which according to Avula is likely to be at the end of March.

[Where are Virginia’s coronavirus cases? The health department’s interactive map]

“I want people to hold on to hope, but realize that the reality is that it will take months before a vaccine comes into our communities, before we can get to the place of herd immunity,” Avula said.

As local departments work to report eligible people, Morrow acknowledges that they can do better.

“There are many opportunities for us to improve, and we will do the same. “Meanwhile, I can not stress strongly enough that people need to be patient,” said Morrow.

Morrow said they are working on improving communication and the ability to get people to register. She also encourages young, healthy people who may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to wait so that others at greater risk can get theirs first.

Click here to see during which phase you can be vaccinated.