Planning For Next Coronavirus Vaccine Phase Begins In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Gov. Ralph Northam announced the next priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccine, Alexandria is seeking to move beyond the first phase of vaccinations.

The first available vaccines have gone to priority groups in phase 1a, which includes health care workers and long-term care facility residents. Hospitals have been administering doses to their staff, while the Alexandria Health Department has handled health care workers not affiliated with hospital systems.

Phase 1b will include people aged 75 and older, people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant camps, and front-line essential workers who are "essential to the functioning of society, are at substantially higher risk of exposure to SARSCoV-2, and cannot work remotely." These include police, fire and hazmat; corrections and homeless shelter workers; child care, K-12 teachers and staff; food and agriculture, manufacturing; grocery store workers; public transit workers; and USPS and private mail carriers.

The health department said in a statement it is prepared to start Phase 1b vaccinations and has petitioned the state to allow Alexandria to move into this phase. More information on when Alexandria can move into the next phase is expected in the coming days.

After those priority groups are vaccinated, phase 1c will include people aged 65 to 74, people aged 16 to 64 with a high risk medical condition, and other essential workers. These essential worker groups include energy; water and wastewater; housing construction; food service; transportation and logistics; higher education institution faculty and staff; finance; information technology and communication; media; legal services; public safety (engineers); other public health workers; and officials needed to maintain continuity of government.

Outreach has begun to organizations employing phase 1b and phase 1c workers to collect information for registering for vaccine appointments. The health department is also working with senior serving organizations to reach residents ages 75 and up who don't have internet access or email. Organizations that have not been contacted and individuals who qualify for phase 1b or 1c based on age or medical condition can fill out this form.

Beyond phase two, vaccines could become available to the public in the spring or summer, depending on manufacturing.

The Virginia Department of Health provides daily updates on vaccination numbers, both statewide and by locality. As of Thursday, 1,517 residents in Alexandria have received at least the first dose. Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines both require two doses.

The Alexandria Health Department releases its own numbers on Fridays reflecting health care workers who are employed in the city and have received doses.