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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

COVID-19 Vaccine: When and Where Do You Get It?

Vac

Issued the following announcement on Jan. 6.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has provided additional details about  the commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts that will begin to ramp  up in the coming weeks. This announcement provides additional clarity  to when and where members of the public will receive COVID-19 vaccine  when it is their turn.

Priority Groups

To  date, the highest-priority members of our community have been receiving  COVID-19 vaccine from hospital systems, pharmacies, and Loudoun County  government. The “Phase 1a” group includes health care workers, EMS  personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.

Phase 1b  includes essential front-line workers who are defined as essential to  the functioning of society and people who are at higher risk of exposure  to the virus. Members of the 1b group include:

  • Persons aged 75 years and older
  • Law enforcement, firefighters and hazmat workers
  • Corrections and homeless shelter workers 
  • Child care/K-12 teachers/staff
  • Food, agriculture and manufacturing workers
  • Grocery store workers
  • Public transit workers
  • Mail carriers/package delivery services
Phase 1c includes other essential workers, older adults and people with certain medical conditions, such as:

  • People aged 65-74
  • People aged 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions or disabilities that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19
  • Utility workers
  • Housing construction workers
  • Food service workers
  • Faculty and staff at institutions of higher education
  • Media
  • Officials needed to maintain the continuity of government.
View the details about the vaccination priority groups on the VDH website.

Following  the vaccination of people in the priority Phases 1a, 1b and 1c,  vaccination opportunities will be expanded to include everyone else in  the general population.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH)  has not yet indicated when Phase 1b and 1c vaccination will begin.  Loudoun County is working with its community partners, which include  pharmacies, healthcare systems, schools and employers, to plan for the  vaccination of people in Phase 1b and 1c when the time comes, and  vaccine supplies are adequate to move into future phases of prioritized  vaccination.

Where to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Plans  generally call for people eventually to receive COVID-19 vaccine  through various channels in the community, much like you receive an  annual flu vaccine. VDH has indicated that more than 2,000 providers  have already signed up to distribute COVID-19 vaccine. This means that  as supplies of vaccine become increasingly available, COVID-19 vaccine  eventually will be available through health care providers and  pharmacies, and in some cases through employers. In addition, Loudoun  County will host vaccination events as needed.

Governor Northam  announced plans to work toward a goal of vaccinating 25,000 to 50,000  Virginians per day in the coming months as vaccine supplies increase.

How to Know When it’s Your Turn to Get Vaccinated

People  eligible for COVID-19 vaccine now—people in Phase 1a—have been  contacted by their employers, designated pharmacies and Loudoun County.  Local health care systems and pharmacies began vaccinating people in  December. In addition, since December 28, 2020, Loudoun County has been  vaccinating other people in Phase 1a on a daily basis.

Loudoun  County will announce when other phases of the vaccination process will  begin, as well as information about vaccination opportunities provided  by the county.  To receive text or email updates about COVID-19 from  Loudoun County:

Stay Vigilant in Slowing the Spread of COVID-19

Before  and after Loudoun residents receive a COVID-19 vaccine, everyone is  encouraged to continue taking the steps that help prevent the spread of  the disease, including washing hands frequently, wearing face coverings,  social distancing, avoiding large gatherings of people and staying home  when sick. Learn more about COVID-19 prevention and care on the county’s website. 

Residents  with questions about COVID-19 may call the Loudoun County Health  Department’s information line, 703-737-8300, or send an email

Original source can be found here.

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