New Vaccine Workers Needed In Virginia As Supplies Increase

VIRGINIA — Virginia is taking steps to increase the number of workers administering the COVID-19 vaccine so that the state can speed up the vaccination process.

A new law, House Bill 2333, sponsored by Del. Lamont Bagby (D-74th), and Senate Bill 1445, sponsored by Sen. Siobhan S. Dunnavant (R-12th), expands the pool of health care providers eligible to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia.

In March, Gov. Ralph Northam issued an executive order to provide additional flexibility to health care providers in supporting the state’s vaccination program and ongoing COVID-19 response. Earlier this week, Northam announced that starting April 18, all people in Virginia age 16 and older will be eligible to get a vaccine.

“Last year, we issued a call for 30,000 medical and non-medical volunteers to join our fight against COVID-19, and I am proud that over 35,000 Virginians have since stepped forward to assist through the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps,” Northam said. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our health care providers and volunteer vaccinators, Virginia is administering an average of nearly 67,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine each day and has given over 3.8 million shots to date.”

By further expanding its vaccination workforce, the governor said Virginia can build on this momentum and ensure it has additional vaccination capacity as supply increases and more people become eligible to receive the vaccine.

Health care providers who are now authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia include dentists, dental hygienists, veterinarians, optometrists and health professions students enrolled in an accredited Virginia program. Eligible providers may serve as vaccinators if they have the appropriate training and meet the supervision requirements.

Eligible health care providers can register to volunteer as a COVID-19 vaccinator through either the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps or the newly established Virginia Volunteer Vaccinator Registry.