Large-Scale Vaccination Centers Start To Open In Virginia

VIRGINIA — Large-scale COVID-19 vaccination centers are beginning to open in Virginia and some health districts will begin to move to phase 1c of vaccinations, according to the state's health department.

These sites are intended to offer the vaccine on a larger scale to individuals who preregistered with the statewide vaccine registration system. A site in Danville opened Monday, a site in Portsmouth will open Tuesday, a Petersburg site will open Wednesday, and a Prince William site is set to open next week.

The Prince William County site will be at the former Gander Mountain store near Potomac Mills in Woodbridge. The community vaccine center will replace the smaller clinic operated by Walmart at the same location.

The sites are managed by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Health. Individuals who are under the current phase 1a or 1b may be contacted to make an appointment at a vaccination center. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

The sites will not replace other small-scale vaccination locations. The large-scale sites are state-managed and funded through FEMA funding provided to Virginia. Sites were selected through a Virginia Department of Emergency Management equity analysis to determine the communities with the largest number of vulnerable populations and communities with the largest percentage of vulnerable population and greatest COVID-19 impact.

Virginia residents, regardless of current eligibility, can preregister for the vaccine at vaccinate.virginia.gov or call the COVID Vaccine Hotline at 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682). Additional languages are available. Fairfax County continues to use its own registration system, and Fairfax Health District residents should continue using that form.

Phase 1c eligibility opening

On Tuesday, VDH said some health districts will start phase 1c of vaccinations this week. 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).

VDH expects all communities across Virginia will be able to offer vaccinations to Phase 1b essential workers within weeks. Before moving to 1c, local health departments must have shown strong efforts to reach all eligible populations in 1a and 1b, particularly disproportionately affected communities such as communities of color.

Before moving to 1c, local health departments must have made strong efforts to reach all those eligible in 1a and 1b populations, particularly communities that have been disproportionately impacted, such as communities of color. Local health departments should also consider whether demand has decreased among 1a and 1b populations.

"It is important that everyone who falls in one of the priority groups outlined in phases 1a-1c, including Virginians who are 65 and older, essential workers, and those 16-64 with underlying health conditions, get signed up on the state’s pre-registration list as soon as possible," said Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccine coordinator. "In some communities, those on that pre-registration list will be contacted in days, not weeks, to schedule an appointment for your vaccine."

VDH tracks the current phase of vaccinations by health district at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/phase-by-health-district.

Virginia started phase 1a vaccinations for health care workers and long-term care facility residents in December. Phase 1b began on Jan. 11 with 75 and older residents and other groups, but eligibility was expanded on Jan. 18 to include anyone 65 and older and people 16 to 64 with an underlying health condition or disability.

Anyone over age 16 who lives or works in Virginia can be eligible in phase 2, which is expected to begin by May 1.

As of Tuesday, 2,740,975 vaccine doses have been administered in Virginia. There are 1,796,749 people with at least one dose (21.1 percent of the population) and 1,010,519 fully vaccinated (11.8 percent of the population). On average, 52,898 doses are administered per day in the state.

Two of the newest vaccine recipients were Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife Pamela Northam, who received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine Monday.

SEE ALSO: How To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Virginia

COVID-19 data

On Tuesday, 1,276 additional coronavirus cases were reported statewide, bringing the seven-day average of daily cases to 1,287. The daily cases are similar to the average seen in November before a surge in cases began. Cases started to trend down again in mid-January.

There were an additional 44 deaths reported Tuesday. A total of 10,104 deaths to date have been attributed to COVID-19 in Virginia.

Current hospitalizations stand at 1,087 as of Tuesday. That includes 218 patients in the intensive care units and 134 on ventilators. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 30 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 76 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

The seven-day average of positive PCR tests is 5.2 percent as of March 12, down from the winter peak of 17.4 percent on Jan. 3. The current positive rate is similar to the level last seen in late October before the winter surge in cases.

On average, 19,172 daily PCR testing encounters were reported statewide on March 11, down from a peak of 35,033 on Jan. 14.

Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Monday to Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 10,617 cases, 521 hospitalizations, 129 deaths; increase of 25 cases and one death
• Arlington County: 13,683 cases, 781 hospitalizations, 242 deaths; increase of 28 cases
• Fairfax County: 68,891 cases, 3,598 hospitalizations, 1,033 deaths; increase of 136 cases, four hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 510 cases, 39 hospitalizations, 16 deaths; increase of four cases
• Falls Church: 370 cases, 20 hospitalizations, 10 deaths; increase of three cases and one death
• Loudoun County: 24,060 cases, 908 hospitalizations, 265 deaths; increase of 74 cases, two hospitalizations and one death
• Manassas: 4,079 cases, 166 hospitalizations, 44 deaths; increase of 12 cases and one hospitalization
• Manassas Park: 1,142 cases, 67 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of three cases
• Prince William County: 40,547 cases, 1,489 hospitalizations, 470 deaths; increase of 64 cases, 16 hospitalizations and one death
• Fredericksburg: 1,823 cases, 93 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of five cases
• Spotsylvania County: 8,565 cases, 286 hospitalizations, 106 deaths; increase of seven cases
• Stafford County: 9,837 cases, 332 hospitalizations, 69 deaths; six cases, one hospitalization, one death removed

For more information on coronavirus vaccines in Virginia, see the Virginia Patch COVID-19 vaccination page.