For Immediate Release: July 31, 2020
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) remind everyone that you are safest at home. Older adults, persons with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women are at greater risk for severe disease and are advised to minimize potential exposures as much as possible. Please keep at least 6 feet of distance from others. Everyone is required to wear a mask in most indoor public settings. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In the sixth of a series, AHD has published its Strategic Action Framework: Vaccine Distribution. While there is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, more than 150 attempts are under development and 27 are currently in human trials to test their safety and efficacy. AHD's vaccine distribution framework summarizes objectives and tactics to support the missions of AHD and the City, to save lives and improve the quality of life as Alexandrians pull through the pandemic together.
Tactics include:
Working with private pharmacies, clinics and hospitals, paying attention to availability and accessibility for uninsured populations through private healthcare providers.
Prioritizing medically, socially and occupationally vulnerable populations.
Preparing for the possibility of public points of distribution (POD) for a COVID-19 vaccine and evaluating potential POD sites; increasing the number of personnel with POD operations skills; and using AHD’s annual influenza vaccine POD event to exercise COVID-19’s vaccine distributions plan.
Revising existing POD plans to include COVID-19 infection prevention measures.
Creating a vaccine communication plan for timely information distribution to partners and the public in multiple languages, using a targeted approach to reach populations that are medically vulnerable and/or advanced in age, uninsured, living in crowded housing, or require assistance for physical access or functional needs.
All of the AHD Strategic Action Frameworks to date are available online, and are living documents that may change as public health learns more about COVID-19. They are primarily used as AHD internal project management documents, but are being shared with the public to increase pandemic response transparency. Sensitive information about specific facilities has been redacted.
As communities across the nation come to terms with their legacies of racial injustice, the Alexandria Community Remembrance Program (ACRP) encourages residents to participate in COVID-19-safe activities by taking the 30-Day Challenge to learn, listen, explore and act to make positive social change. Activities include watching the documentary “An Outrage”; watching an interview with Gladys Davis, who witnessed the 1939 Library sit-in; learning more about food insecurity; or participating in any of the events listed in the 30-Day Challenge calendar. All activities can be done at home or while wearing masks and maintaining at least 6 feet of physical distance. ACRP is a City interdepartmental initiative that is working to address social justice in our community. The program is managed by committees and includes City staff, residents, faith leaders and community organizations.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 2,798, including 58 fatalities. COVID-19 is spread by people whether or not they have symptoms, and nearly 10% of infected Alexandrians have required hospitalization. Everyone must do their part to stop the spread: maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others, wear a mask, and carry and use hand sanitizer. With a recent increase in cases, you are more likely to encounter someone who is infected. Be prepared to answer a call from the Alexandria Health Department in case you are identified as a close contact. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, is available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus.
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