Vaccine Wait List Progress Outlined In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria Health Department provided updates Wednesday on its COVID-19 wait list for people in phase 1b priority groups.

Due to limited vaccine supply, the health department has prioritized doses in subgroups for phase 1b. So far, the health department has contacted people for appointments for people who preregistered by certain dates in January and February.

Here is the breakdown of people who the health department is currently contacting for appointment:

• Ages 75 and up: Everyone who preregistered by Feb. 14. This group is being prioritized on an ongoing basis.
• Ages 65 to 74: Everyone who preregistered by Jan. 27
• Ages 16-64 with underlying conditions:
  • People in priority census tracts who preregistered by 9 p.m. on Jan. 22.
  • Those in all other census tracts who preregistered by 8 a.m. on Jan. 7.
• Essential frontline workers: Everyone who preregistered by Feb. 12.

People who have preregistered before the date listed and have not been contacted by the health department are asked to check their email spam folder. If you do not have a message in your spam folder, contact the health department at alexcovid19@vdh.virginia.gov with the exact name and email address (or phone number) used to preregister and your date of birth. Those without email or internet access can contact the Alexandria COVID-19 Hotline weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 703-746-4988.

Mayor Justin Wilson noted that the health department is administering every dose possible.

As previously outlined by the health department, doses are prioritized for Alexandria residents ages 75 and older on an ongoing basis. Other appointment slots are divided into two groups: 50 percent for people ages 65 to 74 and 50 percent for essential workers in Phase 1b and people 16 to 64 with underlying conditions or disabilities.

In the 65 to 74 with underlying conditions subgroup, appointments are prioritized for residents of 13 Census tracts with the highest social vulnerability scores using 15 factors such as poverty, race or ethnicity status, not speaking English well, and crowded housing. Local, state and national data indicates the highest social vulnerability risk categories have higher rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death, and they often live and work in conditions that make it more difficult to protect themselves from COVID-19.

Alexandrians who are not yet preregistered can use the statewide registration system at vaccinate.virginia.gov. Those who previously registered with the Alexandria Health Department were transferred over to the statewide system. Residents can confirm they are preregistered on that website as well. People who need help preregistering due to language or internet barriers can call the statewide vaccine hotline at 877-829-4682.

As of Thursday, 20,954 people have at least one vaccine dose and 10,952 are fully vaccinated in Alexandria, according to Virginia Department of Health data. People in their 70s lead age groups with 5,045 people with at least one dose (24.1 percent of reported age) and 2,375 fully vaccinated (21.7 percent of reported age).