Vaccine Update: Guide To Getting COVID-19 Vaccine In Burke

BURKE, VA — As we approach the end of March, the Fairfax County Health Department continues to work through the waitlist of residents seeking the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, the health department opened vaccine registration to two more essential worker groups in phase 1b: public transit workers and mail carriers.

"We are opening these categories because our vaccine supply is increasing, and we are moving through our current waitlist at a faster pace," the health department stated.

Individuals currently eligible for vaccine registration are health care workers; primary caregivers; people 65 and older; people 16 to 64 with a qualifying underlying condition; police, fire and hazmat workers; corrections and homeless shelter workers and residents; childcare and K-12 teachers and staff; restaurant or food service workers; agriculture workers; manufacturing workers; grocery store workers; public transit workers; mail carriers (USPS and private). Registration is open to those in the Fairfax Health District (Fairfax County, towns of Vienna, Herndon, and Clifton, and cities and Falls Church and Fairfax).

The remaining phase 1b essential worker groups awaiting registration to open are officials needed to maintain continuity of government, clergy and faith leaders, and janitorial and cleaning staff.

Last week, the Fairfax County Health Department received 43,454 vaccine doses, which is an increase of over 10,000 doses from the previous week. Doses go toward the health department's vaccination events and other vaccinators.

Separate allocations go to pharmacies participating in the federal pharmacy partnership. Some pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Harris Teeter and Safeway have their own appointment scheduling.

Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia localities are advocating for increased doses from the state. On March 19, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission sent a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam requesting significant increases of vaccine doses and flexibility with distribution. Leaders believe increased allocations are needed to vaccinate people on waitlists and allow the region to meet the state's expectation that localities begin phase 1c (certain essential workers) by mid-April. All of Virginia is expected to move into phase 2 (all Virginians 16 and up) at the start of May.

The Fairfax County Health Department expects it can move into phase 1c by mid-April and move into Phase 2 by May 1, per state guidance.

SEE ALSO: Fairfax Health Department Hiring Hundreds Of COVID-19 Vaccinators

Phase 1c, the last phase before the general public, includes certain essential worker groups (energy; water, wastewater, and waste removal workers; housing and construction; food service; transportation and logistics; institutions of higher education faculty and staff; finance; information technology and communication; media; legal services; public safety (engineers); and other public health workers).

As of Tuesday, 250,585 people in Fairfax County have at least one vaccine dose, and 133,978 are fully vaccinated. The health department has completed appointment scheduling for individuals who registered through February and is now scheduling appointments for those who signed up in early March.

Eligible Fairfax County residents should continue to preregister through the health department. Fairfax County is not participating in the statewide vaccine registration system.