Fairfax Health District Expands Vaccine Availability To Three New Groups

Press release from the City of Fairfax:

03/17/2021

Beginning March 17, individuals who live or work the Fairfax Health District that fall into the following categories are now eligible to register to get a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Food and Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Grocery Store Workers

See below for specific category details defined by the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health.

These are the next three priority groups of frontline essential workers in Phase 1b as outlined by the Virginia Department of Health. Fairfax Health District is now accepting registrations for the first six categories on this list:

1. Police, fire, and hazmat (currently eligible)
2. Corrections and homeless shelter workers (currently eligible)
3. Childcare/K-12 Teachers or Staff (currently eligible)
4. Food and Agriculture (currently eligible)
5. Manufacturing (currently eligible)
6. Grocery store workers (currently eligible)
7. Public transit workers
8. Mail carriers (USPS and private)
9. Officials needed to maintain continuity of government
10. Clergy/Faith leaders
11. Janitorial/Cleaning staff

Fairfax Health District is opening these categories because the district's vaccine supply will be increasing over the next few weeks and FHD will be able to move through the current waitlist at a faster pace. FHD expects to move into Phase 1c by mid-April and move into Phase 2 by May 1 in accordance with VDH guidance.

Employees should be prepared to show some form of work-related identification or paystub as the vaccine appointment could be offered by one of our vaccine partners that may require ID.

As a reminder, Fairfax Health District is not participating in the statewide registration system at this time. You should register on our website.

Food and Agriculture

According to the CDC, the following categories are included in the Food and Agriculture priority group:

• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
• Beverage manufacturing (does not refer to public serving such as breweries)
• Food manufacturing (does not refer to public serving such as restaurants)
• Nursery, garden center and farm supply stores
• Veterinary services

The Virginia Department of Health has also approved these categories:

• ABC workers
• Alcoholic beverage producers
• Butcher and slaughterhouse workers
• Food banks, food pantries and food distribution sites
• Wholesale producers of meat, vegetables and foods

Manufacturing

According to the CDC, the following categories are included in the Manufacturing priority group:

• Asphalt paving, roofing and saturated materials manufacturing
• Chemical manufacturing
• Computer and electronic manufacturing
• Electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing
• Fabricated metal product manufacturing
• Industry machinery manufacturing
• Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing
• Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing
• Other miscellaneous manufacturing
• Other petroleum and coal products manufacturing
• Paper manufacturing
• Petroleum manufacturing
• Plastics and rubber product manufacturing
• Primary metal manufacturing
• Transportation equipment manufacturing
• Wood kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturing
• Wood product manufacturing

Grocery Store Workers

According to the CDC, the following categories are included in the Grocery Store Workers priority group:

• Food and beverage stores
• General merchandise stores, including warehouse clubs and supercenters

The Virginia Department of Health has also approved these categories:

• Convenience store workers
• Farmers market vendor (if selling food)
• Grocery shopping services
• Retail stores that sell food and other products

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.