Northam Outlines Next Groups For Coronavirus Vaccinations

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam outlined the priority groups for the next phases of COVID-19 vaccinations and urged vaccine providers to not let doses go to waste.

Virginia is more than three weeks into vaccinations after Pfizer's COVID-19 became available, followed by Moderna's vaccine a week later. The groups prioritized for vaccinations in Virginia's phase 1a are health care workers and long-term care facility residents and workers. An estimated 500,000 people in Virginia are in these groups.

On Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Health reported the first data on people fully vaccinated. There are 116,247 people with at least one dose, which includes 2,204 people who received both doses. Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines require two doses; Pfizer's doses should be taken 21 days apart, and Moderna's doses should be 28 days apart. To date, 481,550 doses have been distributed in Virginia.

"We're making progress but there is no question that we need to speed the process up," said Northam.

No start dates have yet been announced for the next priority groups, phases 1b and 1c, but the groups will be larger than the estimated 500,000 people in phase 1a. Phase 1b includes first responders, child care workers, K-12 teachers, essential workers in manufacturing, food and grocery, transit and postal, and people ages 75 and up. This accounts for about 1.2 million people in Virginia.

Phase 1c includes essential workers such as those in construction, transportation, food service and utilities, as well as people ages 65 and up and people ages 16 to 64 with high risk medical conditions. This group makes up about 2.5 million people in Virginia.

"This list has been developed based on guidance the CDC has given to all states," said Northam. "It's good guidance and it's clear guidance. It also allows room for states to customize. We've done that in Virginia after consulting with health care professionals, experts in medical ethics and lots of others."

Those phases 1a, 1b and 1c represent around half of Virginia, according to Northam. He described the essential workers chosen for the priority groups as "people who work in jobs that keep our society functioning, people who are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 and people who cannot work remotely."

Teachers and day care workers represent the largest essential worker group according to the governor.

"They're high on the list of essential workers because teachers are critical to getting schools back open and that's critical to people getting back to work and literally getting back to normal," said Northam. "Opening schools does not depend on vaccinating teachers but that sure will make it a lot easier."

Beyond those first phases, details for general population vaccinations are not yet available. For Virginia's estimated 8.5 million population to be vaccinated, Northam said 17 million doses will be needed.

The governor acknowledged that many want to know when it is their turn to get the vaccine and where to go. More details are expected coming days and weeks, and online tools will inform residents where shots will be available with sign-up options online or by phone. But for now, only health care workers and long-term care facility residents and workers can seek COVID-19 vaccines.

Northam estimated Virginia receives 110,000 vaccine doses per week, which equates to about 14,000 shots per day. He set a short-term goal of 25,000 vaccines being given per day, but that will depend on how quickly doses are manufactured. The eventual goal will be 50,000 shots a day.

As for the providers currently administering shots, Northam said no doses should go to waste. He noted that the health care workers and long-term care facility residents should be prioritized, but vaccine providers should use their judgement to make adjustments on occasion.

"We can be faster, and we're going to be faster," said Northam. "That starts with a simple message to health care providers, health departments, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, everywhere: you use it, or you lose it. So I want you to empty those freezers and get shots in arms. When you have vials, give out shots until they're gone. No one wants to see any supplies sitting unused."

The governor also announced Dr. Danny TK Avula to lead Virginia's vaccination program, Avula, also the director, Richmond and Henrico health departments, will be the "field general" coordinating work between state officials, local health departments, hospitals and health providers. The Virginia National Guard will also be assigned to help with vaccinations as more doses arrive, and Avula and his team will coordinate with the military team on when and where the National Guard help.

"He’s a good man, he knows how to get things done, and he’s the right person to bring extra help to local health departments. He will be our field general," said Northam."

Northam has not received the vaccine but intends to get it when it's his turn. He is confident that the proper steps were taken in developing the vaccines.

"It's a success story in a year that didn't have very many," he said.

Latest case data

More details on the vaccination efforts come as Virginia recorded a record-high 5,387 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. Northam cited the UVA model that predicts case numbers will keep rising beyond Valentine’s Day.

Current hospitalizations also reached a new high of 2,925, which includes 537 in the intensive care units and 357 on ventilators. There were 35 new deaths reported, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The statewide seven-day positive average of PCR tests stands at 16.7 percent. That's nearing the 20.2 percent average on April 20 and 21 when testing capacity was much lower. The seven- day average of daily testing encounters is 24,151 as of Jan. 2, while the average was 2,914 on April 21. On a regional level, all regions have positive averages above 12 percent.

The current 2,925 COVID-19 patients are part of the 13,597 hospital beds occupied in Virginia. The state has 16,476 staffed hospital beds. Among all hospital patients, 1,040 of 3,026 ventilators are in use, representing 34 percent capacity. ICU occupancy stands at 84 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Northam also anticipates new strains of the virus that are more contagious are out in the world and could reach Virginia, if they haven't already.

"We all need to be clear that our country is in a very, very serious place right now. The virus is worse now than it has ever been. Case numbers are about four times higher than they were last spring," said the governor.

Here are the latest case updates for our coverage areas between Tuesday and Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 7,676 cases, 444 hospitalizations, 89 deaths; increase of 90 cases and one death
• Arlington County: 9,420 cases, 670 hospitalizations, 184 deaths; increase of 82 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax County: 46,776 cases, 3,031 hospitalizations, 691 deaths; increase of 423 cases, 18 hospitalizations and three deaths
• Fairfax City: 311 cases, 26 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 194 cases, 18 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of six cases
• Loudoun County: 14,973 cases, 657 hospitalizations, 161 deaths; increase of 187 cases and three hospitalizations
• Manassas: 3,025 cases, 148 hospitalizations, 29 deaths; increase of 16 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas Park: 972 cases, 65 hospitalizations, eight deaths; increase of nine cases
• Prince William County: 27,297 cases, 1,239 hospitalizations, 263 deaths; increase of 334 cases, five hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 1,106 cases, 67 hospitalizations, and 11 deaths; increase of 19 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 5,183 cases, 216 hospitalizations, 69 deaths; increase of 106 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 5,684 cases, 237 hospitalizations, 26 deaths; increase of 125 cases, six hospitalizations and one death

Patch editor Jeff Arnold contributed reporting.