Vaccine Distribution Information
Arrival of the vaccine and news coverage of vaccinations in process have brought about a mix of emotions – hope for a return to normal, anxiousness on the impact and effectiveness of the vaccine, disappointment with the speed of distribution and confusion about the process for getting vaccinated. My office has received numerous calls and requests for information on the plans for distribution, how to “get in line”, and how we will be notified. My office and I have worked to pull together as much information as possible on the current status – some good news and some disappointment. I hope you will find this information useful and I will work to keep you up to date in future newsletters as more information is available.
Who Determines Who Gets Vaccinations and When?
The first vaccines are going to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities in Phase 1a.
The next priority group, Phase 1b, includes frontline essential workers and people 75 and older. Then, people aged 16-74 with high-risk medical conditions, people aged 65-74, and other essential workers are the next priority group in Phase 1c.
The state is also responsible for determining how the vaccine is going to be distributed and administered within the state. As with testing, Virginia Department of Health has been slow to come out with plans and guidance on how and when the vaccine will be distributed. The Fairfax County Health Department is responsible for executing the plan developed by the state but is waiting on guidance from the Virginia Department of Health.
What is Happening Now and How Do I Get Vaccinated if I Qualify for Group 1a?
Currently Virginia and Fairfax County are in Phase 1a of the vaccination process. In accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health, Fairfax County and the state implemented a three-pronged approach for these vaccinations.
- Health care personnel affiliated with Inova or Reston hospitals are being vaccinated by the hospitals. You should contact those hospitals to join their rounds of vaccination at the appropriate time.
- Staff and residents of long-term care facilities are being vaccinated through a federal long-term care facility Pharmacy Partnership Program with CVS and Walgreens. If you are at one of these facilities, please check with the administrator at your facility for more information on how to get vaccinated.
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According the VDH dashboard, to date there have been 10,913 first round vaccinations in the Fairfax Health District. Our health department is vaccinating health care personnel not affiliated with hospitals but who work in Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Vienna and Herndon, as well as Emergency Medical Services (EMS), dialysis centers, home health and hospice, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient providers, optometrists, rehabilitation services, federally qualified health centers, free clinics, dental offices, pharmacies, corrections, school nurses, students in clinical rotations, behavioral health and public health. If you fall into this category, please contact the health department.
The good news is that these vaccinations are happening as fast as we can get the vaccine. We are expecting additional doses this week. The bad news is that the vaccine doses have not been arriving as quickly as expected or hoped. My office has been helpful connecting some medical professionals that qualify under Group 1a to the health department for vaccination – please let us know if we can help.
What Happens after Group 1a?
This is the disappointing part. Despite knowing that the need for vaccine distribution plans were coming, the Virginia Department of Health has no published or known plans or guidelines for vaccine distribution after Phase 1a. Many other states have developed detailed distribution plans and tentative dates while others are where Virginia is. To be fair the plans need to be contingent on the arrival of the vaccine doses but there should be a plan. Virginia was slow to roll out testing guidelines and was one of the worst states in the nation in testing. I am hoping we do not have a repeat with the vaccination process.
Without the state plans and guidelines, the Fairfax County Health Department is not able to develop its plans for distribution. The County has taken some actions including administering vaccines at its health centers and the Government Center under phase 1a – by appointment only. They have developed contingent plans to distribute vaccine under 1b however it appears that much of the distribution will be at pharmacies with a script with your doctor that you meet the requirements of that phase until we get to the open vaccination phase.
How Do I Get In Line or On the List To Be Vaccinated?
This is the number one question that I have been receiving in my office – especially from residents that meet the Phase 1b criteria. Unfortunately, because of the lack of guidance from the Virginia Department of Health there is no definitive answer to this question in terms of either process or timing. My unofficial advice is that if you believe you meet the criteria of 1b you should notify your doctor of your desire to be vaccinated and be sure they are in regular contact with the Virginia Department of Health and the Fairfax County Health Department. Unfortunately, I have heard too many widely varying estimates on when we will get to Phase 1b to share any predictions.
I will continue to do my best to keep you updated through social media and the Herrity Report as we learn more.
Is the Vaccine Safe?
While nothing in life is 100%, I believe the vaccine is safe, primarily because of the type of vaccine it is. See here for more information on the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. According to the CDC, the vaccine may result in side effects for a few days, but these will go away and are normal. See more here about what you can expect when you are vaccinated.
Update on Testing
As we have seen in other countries, robust testing can be a key tool in fighting the spread of COVID-19. While testing has improved in Virginia and Fairfax County, we still do not have the kind of robust testing capability that allows for residents to get tested quickly, safely, and affordably. Fairfax County residents are going to other jurisdictions in Virginia to get no-requirement, free testing when they should be able to get it here. I have asked the county to look at ways we can improve our local testing capabilities.
For information on testing, visit the County testing page here.
I have shared my concerns about the lack of information on vaccination plans and processes with our local Virginia delegation members.
