The peninsula’s health district today began moving the COVID-19 vaccination into “Phase 1b” priority groups, according to a news release from the district.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, Phase 1b includes emergency workers at the front, people 65 and older, people 16 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions, and people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and labor camps.
Government Ralph Northam announced last Thursday that it wants to move people aged 65 and over to Phase 1B, in accordance with the revised guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Although there is no timeline for when Virginia will move from phase to phase, Northam VDH has ordered health districts to move through the phases at their own pace.
RELATED STORY: Northam: COVID-19 vaccine now available to residents 65 and older; those with co-diseases
“We focus on front-line workers, those living in municipal areas and people aged 75 and over,” the PHD news release said.
As defined by VDH, essential front workers include the following:
- Police, Fire and Hazmat
- Corrections and homeless shelter workers
- Childcare / PreK-12 teachers / staff (public and private)
- Food and agriculture (veterinarians included)
- Manufacture
- Grocery store workers
- Public transport workers
- Mail Carriers (USPS and Private)
- Officials are needed to maintain the continuity of government (including judges and public judicial workers)
The complete definitions of all phases, data and other information are on VDH’s website Vaccine Response.
“The vaccine supply remains limited,” said Dr. Natasha Dwamena, director of the PHD, said in a statement from the news release. ‘So we start with the people who are most at risk for infection and death. ”
“On the peninsula, people over the age of 75 are those who live in a congregation,” she added.
RELATED STORY: Peninsula Health District extends COVID-19 vaccinations to Phase 1b recipients
The data from the VDH show that 48,034 virgins were fully vaccinated as of Friday, while 376,823 people received at least one dose of the vaccine.
On Friday, Williamsburg-James City County Schools staff began receiving the first dose of Modner COVID-19 vaccine. It is the first group to receive vaccinations at a temporary clinic located in the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, according to a news release from the City of Williamsburg.
“The beginning of the vaccination process, coupled with the consistent use of masks, social distancing and cleaning protocols in schools, strengthens our ability to bring students safely back to the classrooms,” said Olwen Herron, superintendent of WJCC schools, in a statement from the news release said. .
This clinic is not yet open to the public, and the City of Williamsburg is requesting that the public allow workers in these areas to work without interruption.
An announcement will be made when the sites are open for public vaccination.
“By starting with a smaller group of people, we can test our processes in the clinic and make adjustments to the amount of vaccines to open them up to the general public,” said Williamsburg manager Andrew O. Trivette in ‘ a prepared statement said. statement.
The clinic at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center is one of three vaccination clinics opening on the Peninsula this week. The other two clinics within the PHD are located in the Hampton Roads Convention Center and Christopher Newport University.
These clinics will soon be able to serve a large number of people every operating day as soon as enough vaccine is available. Existing medical staff, including school nurses, from each PHD environment will serve as vaccinations.
The visitor center of the colonial Williamsburg will remain closed to guests until the facility is no longer needed for this initiative.
According to the COVID-19 data dashboard, a total of 4,758 doses of vaccines have been administered in Williamsburg, James City and York counties since Friday.
As of Friday, 12 vaccines have been administered in Williamsburg, 1,695 vaccines in York County and 3,051 vaccines in James City County.
The vaccine data shows the location based on the place where the person who received the vaccine lives and not where the vaccine was administered.
Last week, the City of Williamsburg announced that city staff are working with Riverside, Sentara Healthcare, the PHD and nearby communities to set up mass vaccination clinics to increase the number of vaccinations administered locally, according to a City of Williamsburg news release. .
An initial group of Williamsburg Fire Department paramedics received training to administer the vaccines. WFD staff will soon also be trained in the state’s scheduling and management program for the vaccination process.
In partnership with James City County, Williamsburg plans to vaccinate interested city and provincial employees who fall into the appropriate phase categories in the coming weeks.
The PHD has also committed to opening a secondary clinic in its Ironbound Road office, which is likely to open in the next few weeks. As vaccine supply increases, pharmacy chains and local doctor’s offices are expected to be able to participate in the effort.
Planning teams from the PHD are contacting employers in phase 1b and soon the district will implement an automated scheduling system.
VDH has compiled a questionnaire to help people learn which category of the phased distribution system they fall into.
Meanwhile, individuals who have priority in phase 1b can register online via the PHD’s website here or call 757-594-7496 and leave information immediately.
All delivery and vaccination clinics are by appointment only. Suitable persons will be called in the order in which the call was received.
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