Registration Form Open For Expanded Phase 1b Groups In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After Gov. Ralph Northam announced expanded eligibility for phase 1b in Virginia, Alexandria officials encourage eligible residents to use an online form to register.

Phase 1b now includes anyone aged 65 and up as well as people aged 16 to 64 with an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The phase previously only covered ages 75 and up, certain essential worker groups and people living in homeless shelters, correctional facilities and migrant labor camps.

As phase 1b started during the week of Jan. 11, the Alexandria Health Department opened an online form to facilitate registration of eligible residents. Individuals eligible in phase 1a or 1b can fill out the online form and will be notified to make an appointment when the vaccine supply is available. Those who are eligible in phase 1c can pre-register and be notified when they are eligible for the vaccine. Residents are encouraged to use the online form instead of calling the COVID-19 hotline when possible.

However, the health department said the hotline has experienced increasing "abusive, aggressive, and disrespectful calls."

"The call center is primarily staffed by Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, who are dedicated residents who donate their time to help their fellow Alexandrians in the pandemic," the health department and city said in a statement. "AHD and the City will not tolerate the mistreatment of staff or volunteers, and abusive calls will be ended."

As of Friday, 3,132 doses have been administered to Alexandria residents, and 252 people are fully vaccinated. Across Virginia, 237,855 people have at least one dose, and 30,475 people are fully vaccinated. Moderna and Pfizer's vaccines require the second dose to be taken weeks after the first.

Residents can find more information about the vaccine and the vaccination phases from the Alexandria Health Department and Virginia Department of Health.