See why the Virginia coronavirus vaccine launch is moving more slowly than expected

ROANOKE, Va. – We need to do better.

This is the message of a local health director addressing the deficiencies and confusion about the distribution of the COVID vaccine.

As many health districts move into priority group 1b, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District Director Dr. Cynthia Morrow said they face roadblocks.

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“We recognize that many people are afraid, they are frustrated. Our numbers validate that. This fear and frustration is understandable and we are also frustrated that we do not have the vaccine supply or the infrastructure to vaccinate all at once, ”said Morrow.

10 News took those concerns to the Virginia vaccine coordinator, Dr. Danny Avula, who said that we depend on federal government supplies.

It is then up to the VDH to distribute these doses across Virginia, based on the size of the population and the infrastructure needed to vaccinate people.

“We have about 110,000 doses that will arrive each week and not everyone will get what they are asking for,” explained Avula.

Those numbers are not expected to improve until production increases and more vaccine options are on the market, which Avula said would likely be in late March.

[Where are Virginia’s coronavirus cases? The health department’s interactive map]

“I want people to keep that hope, but recognize that the reality is that it will take months for a vaccine to reach our communities so that we can reach that point of collective immunity,” said Avula.

While local departments work to enroll qualified people, Morrow admits that they can do better.

“There are many opportunities for us to improve and we will go. In the meantime, I can’t stress myself hard enough for people to be patient, ”said Morrow.

Morrow said that they are working to improve communication and the ability to register people. It also encourages young, healthy people who may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to wait for others at higher risk to get theirs first.

Click here to know at what stage you may be vaccinated.