(WDBJ) – Soon, more people in our cities will be allowed to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Starting on Monday, a handful of health districts will begin Phase 1B vaccination. This group includes essential workers, such as teachers, grocery workers and others, and people aged 75 and over.
Health districts like the New River and Roanoke & Alleghany health districts will move to phase 1B in just a few days. If you want to get vaccinated, you need to pre-register and make an appointment in advance.
“This is really the potential turning point in this terrible pandemic. . . It is so exciting to know that we finally have a tool that can make a difference, ‘said Cynthia Morrow, District Director of Health for Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts.
Monday, the COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to many in the NRV and Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts.
“There are literally hundreds of thousands of people in the Phase 1B category in Virginia. It will take some time to get through Phase 1B, it will take weeks, if not a month, and so we really need people to understand that we need patience, we need flexibility, ”said Morrow.
For essential workers included in Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution plan, the next question is how to obtain the vaccine. Health officials say you can get the vaccine through your workplace clinic or home clinic. But for that to happen, you need to pre-register and make an appointment at your clinics.
If you identify yourself as Phase 1B and work at a smaller or independent company, are 75 years old or older, or are not affiliated with a workplace or residential clinic, you can pre-register on the health district websites.
“It is essential that people pre-register, again, all clinics are closed clinics, which means that they are not available to attendants,” said Morrow.
After pre-registering, the Virginia Department of Health will contact you to make an appointment with a local health department, pharmacy, or health provider.
In Phase 1B, there are priorities and police authorities and the first respondents are at the top of the list. Health officials say that pre-registration does not guarantee that you will have an appointment, “Because it is our responsibility to try and ensure that we are distributing the vaccine according to prioritization strategies,” said Morrow.
11 other health districts in Virginia, including the Mount Rogers health district, will also begin their Phase 1B deployment plan next week.
Health officials say that if you are in Phase 1C or the general public, you should not pre-register. Phase 1C will include other essential workers and people aged 65 to 74. It also includes people with disabilities or high-risk medical conditions.
You can check the HDR website for more information on which phase of the vaccine you are included in and when you will be able to receive it.
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