HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – The Shenandoah Central Health District announced on Monday evening that it has expanded the COVID-19 vaccination process to those who fall into the Phase 1b category.
The health department announced that it will close COVID-19 “dispensation point” vaccination clinics for those in Phase 1b priority groups. According to the Virginia Department of Health, Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine and includes certain groups of essential workers, such as first responders and teachers.
Spokesperson Laura Lee Wight of the Central Sanitary District of Shenandoah (CSHD) said that the HRD has been looking for employers in the priority groups.
There is currently no registration available for obtaining the vaccine. At this time, the health district is collecting information from those who fall into Phase 1b and will inform them of when a vaccine will be available for them to schedule an appointment, which is expected in the coming weeks.
The Central Sanitary District of Shenandoah consists of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Lexington, Buena Vista City and the counties of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge and Rockingham.
According to the CSHD, vaccination efforts for this group will begin in the week of 25 January.
The VDH said that individuals in this Phase 1b group will be required to bring a form of personal identification, such as a driver’s license, and may also be required to show proof of qualification, such as a work permit, in order to verify eligibility.
Phase 1b includes the police, fire brigade and hazardous materials personnel, those who live and work in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps, teachers and daycare / elementary and high school staff, food workers and agriculture, manufacturers, grocery workers, public transport workers, mail carriers (USPS and private individuals) and anyone aged 65 and over.
The health district said it is working with health partners, such as hospital systems, federally qualified health centers and 10 local pharmacies to start vaccinating people 65 and older.
“Given the limited supply of vaccines currently available, PODs sponsored by the health department and the distribution of vaccines by community partners will only be scheduled at this time,” says a statement from the Shenandoah Central Health District.
Essential workers who want to get the vaccine or have questions should send an email [email protected].
Anyone aged 65 or over can send email [email protected] to receive a safe survey to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available or call your local health district office.
Once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, the health department will contact individuals who have registered with instructions on how to register and make an appointment.
“We are pleased to provide a safe and effective vaccine for individuals in Phase 1b,” said CSHD health district director, Dr. Laura Kornegay. “We will continue our Phase 1b vaccination efforts throughout February and update the public on our progress in reaching this group and moving on to the next phase. Although the vaccine offers hope on the horizon, it will still be months before it is widely available to the public. It is important to remember that we are still very much in the trenches of this pandemic and we must continue to adhere to COVID-19 prevention practices, including wearing a mask, hand washing and social distance ”.
The CSHD predicts that as vaccine availability increases, they will move on to other phases. Phase 1c will include other essential workers, according to the statement. It will continue to work with local health partners to provide vaccine availability to those in Phase 1a of the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
At what stage do I fall?
The complete definitions of all phases, data and other information are on the VDH Vaccine Response website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.
You can also take this short questionnaire to find out which vaccination phase you are in by clicking here.
The vaccine will be offered to Virgos who do not qualify for a priority phase when it is most widely available. According to the CSHD, the distribution will be similar to that of a flu vaccine, where you can get it from a local pharmacy, primary care doctor, free clinic, local health department or other clinics that participate as a program provider. of vaccination COVID-19.
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The Central Sanitary District of Shenandoah to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination to “Phase 1b” Recipients
(Staunton City, Augusta County, Va.) – As of Monday, January 18, the Shenandoah Central Health District (CSHD) will provide closed COVID-19 vaccination clinics for “Phase 1b” priority groups. Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine and includes police, firefighters and personnel responding to hazardous materials, those who live and work in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and work camps for migrants, daycare centers / teachers and teaching staff primary and middle school, food and agriculture workers, manufacturers, grocery workers, public transport workers, courier carriers (USPS and private) and anyone aged 65 or over.
These individuals must bring a personal identification document, such as a driver’s license, and may also be required to provide proof of qualification, such as a work permit, to verify eligibility. CSHD will continue to work with local health partners to provide vaccine availability to those in Phase 1a. We expect to complete most Phase 1a health professionals by the end of the month. Efforts continue with staff and residents of qualified nursing facilities and assisted living facilities through a federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens.
The essential worker groups in Phase 1b include K-12 schools and daycare workers, and we will begin vaccination efforts for this group in the week of January 25th. CSHD is also working with our health partners, such as hospital systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and 10 local pharmacies across the district to start vaccinating people 65 and older. Given the limited supply of vaccines currently available, PODs sponsored by the health department and the distribution of vaccines by community partners will only be scheduled at this time.
Vaccination planning teams are contacting employers in Phase 1b. Essential Phase 1b workers who wish to receive the vaccine or have questions should send an email [email protected]. Anyone aged 65 or over can send email [email protected] to receive a safe survey to enroll in a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, the health department will contact individuals who have registered with instructions on how to register and make an appointment. Anyone interested in receiving updates on district vaccine distribution efforts can also email [email protected]. Updated information can also be found on the district’s COVID-19 vaccine website: www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/covid-19-vaccine-information.
“We are pleased to provide a safe and effective vaccine for individuals in Phase 1b,” said CSHD health district director, Dr. Laura Kornegay. “We will continue our Phase 1b vaccination efforts throughout February and update the public on our progress in reaching this group and moving on to the next phase. Although the vaccine offers hope on the horizon, it will still be months before it is widely available to the public. It is important to remember that we are still in the trenches of this pandemic and we must continue to adhere to COVID-19 prevention practices, including wearing a mask, hand washing and social detachment.
As the availability of the vaccine increases, Virginia will move on to the other phases. Phase 1c will include other essential workers. Complete definitions of all phases, data and other information are on the VDH Vaccine Response website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. Citizens can take it brief test to find out which vaccination phase they fall into.
Virginians who do not qualify for the priority phases will receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is most widely available. Once the vaccine is released to the general public, the distribution will be similar to that of the flu vaccine. People will be able to obtain the vaccine at a local pharmacy, primary care physician, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) / free clinic, local health department or other clinic that is participating as a COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider.
In the meantime, it is important to remain vigilant in preventing COVID-19. Continue to protect yourself and others: cover your mouth and nose with a mask, wash your hands frequently, stay at least two meters away from others, avoid meeting with people outside your home and take a flu vaccine.
You can learn more about the vaccine, its safety and answers to frequently asked questions at VDH website and CDC website.
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