[Archived] City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department Continue Progress in Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccinations

­­For Immediate Release: January 13, 2021 

Governor Ralph Northam, Mayor Justin Wilson and members of the Alexandria City Council visited an Alexandria Health Department (AHD) vaccination site yesterday, to recognize Alexandria’s leadership in administering the vaccine against COVID-19. As a result of advocacy by AHD and the City of Alexandria, state officials authorized Alexandria to be among the first localities to move to Phase 1b of vaccinations, which includes frontline essential workers, persons age 75 or older, and staff and residents of correctional facilities and homeless shelters. This follows work from December 24 through January 8 to provide 1,518 doses of vaccine to health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities eligible under Phase 1a.

“Our message is simple: Get the vaccine as soon as you are eligible,” said Alexandria Health Director Dr. Stephen A. Haering. “If you are not eligible yet, you will be soon. Be prepared to take this important step for your health and those you love.”

Among the frontline essential workers eligible for vaccination under Phase 1b are public and private K-12 employees, and childcare providers. Many of the individuals being vaccinated in Alexandria this week are teachers and staff of the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings Jr. also received his first dose of the vaccine today, administered by an ACPS nurse. 

Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health has established a priority order for the vaccine to be administered when doses have limited availability. The first groups to receive the vaccine are those with the highest risk of exposure to the virus or the highest risk of severe illness if they are infected. Phase 1c will include other essential workers, persons age 65 or older, and persons age 16 through 64 with certain medical conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness if they contract the virus.

An individual eligible for Phase 1a, 1b or 1c based on their employment should be registered by their employer. An individual who is eligible based on their age or medical condition can register through the local health department where they live.

People who are eligible for Phase 1b in Alexandria should submit a brief form to begin the process to register for vaccination. Anyone experiencing difficulty with the form may call the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline at 703.746.4988, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. AHD is working closely with senior-serving organizations to register residents ages 75 and older who do not have access to the internet or an email address. Those who are eligible for vaccination as part of Phase 1c can also fill out the form, but they will not be able to make a vaccination appointment until Alexandria enters that phase. Members of households may become eligible at different times, depending on their employment locations, occupations, ages, and health conditions. Vaccination phases may vary by states and localities.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus to learn more about vaccine development, safety, benefits and eligibility, as well as many other resources to stop the spread of COVID-19.