As we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, two vaccines have been approved for emergency use by the FDA. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved and both require two administered doses.
The nation is in a phased roll-out of the vaccines which places people in different categories when it comes to when they get the vaccine based on occupation, health conditions and age. The vaccine was first given to group 1A which was healthcare workers and long term facility employees and residents. Some areas of Virginia have now started giving the vaccine to group 1B which includes first responders and people 65 and older, among others.
Some local areas are offering places online to provide your information. This alerts health officials that you want the vaccine, and helps place you in the right group so you get contacted when you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Be advised, appointments to receive the vaccine -- for either those who are eligible or not yet eligible -- will be determined by the number of doses a jurisdiction receives. That is according to the John Cooke, the VDH's Eastern Regional Emergency Coordinator, who said there are not enough vaccines regionally.
"It will come so just practice that patience and of course, the public health messaging that we have been saying for nearly a year now," Cooke explained, "of social distancing and masking, and handwashing."
Jurisdictions such as the City of Williamsburg and James City County have joined forces to administer the vaccines. Bradley Beam, the city's Infection Control Officer, said the layout of how the vaccinations will be administered is a work in progress.
He also said residents who fall under the 1B category are getting the shots. Beam also said appointments are vaccine-dependent in the city and county.
"We know a lot of people are frustrated, we know there's a lot of people continuing to wait," Beam told News 3. "We can assure that we, along with everyone else, all other jurisdictions want to get the vaccine out as quick as possible but right now it's vaccine dependent at this point."
Find the area you live in below for more information as each city/county has different processes. Please note that many areas are still working on their specific plans, but News 3 is working to reach out to get more information.
Chesapeake
The City of Chesapeake is working with the Virginia Department of Health, which has developed a state vaccination plan.
Local website directs residents to Virginia state website which has a vaccination survey and information found by clicking here.
There is no local vaccination sign up available.
Accomack
Rural Health patients and Shore residents without a primary care provider who are in Phase 1b can call for a vaccination appointment. Due to high demand and limited supply, appointments are currently being scheduled no earlier than May.
How to get vaccinated at Eastern Shore Rural Health:
- Patients and people without a primary care provider age 75 and older should call to make an appointment. Click on center name for phone number: Atlantic – Chincoteague – Eastville – Onley If you do not fall in this group, check back later so higher risk people can be immunized first.
- Many in Phase 1b will get their vaccine where they work or live and do not need to call to make an appointment. Phase 1b workers ask your employer for info.
- Over the next few months, the Eastern Shore Health District will contact smaller and independent businesses to set up vaccinations for their employees. Phase 1b employers who do not have a plan in place for employees and have not heard from the Health District should call 757-787-5880.
If you are an individual age 65+ or 16-64 with an underlying medical condition and not included in an essential worker group, please contact your physician’s office to schedule vaccination – both Riverside physician’s offices and Eastern Shore Rural Health centers are providing vaccine to Accomack and Northampton citizens in these groups.
There is no local vaccination sign up available.
Northampton Co.
Phase 1B started on January 13. These include police, fire and hazmat response personnel, those 65 or over, childcare/K-12 teachers and staff, those living and working in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps, food, agriculture and aquaculture workers, manufacturers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and mail carriers (USPS and private).
Many Phase 1b recipients will get their vaccine through clinics where they work or live and do not need to seek vaccine independently. For those age 65 and over, please contact your primary care provider to schedule an appointment to receive your vaccine. If you are 65 years of age or over and do not have a primary care provider, ESRHS will give you a vaccine. ESRHS will start making appointments Wednesday, January 13 and Riverside will start making appointments on Thursday, January, 14. Over the next several weeks, ESHD will be contacting smaller and independent businesses and anyone NOT affiliated with a clinic at work or where they live and in Phase 1b to set one up for you.
Local website directs residents to Virginia state website which has a vaccination survey and information found by clicking here.
There is no local vaccination sign up available.
Hampton
The City Manager said through a partnership with Sentara Health System and the local health district - Hampton was selected to begin an employer-based vaccination clinic. They began this clinic with a small, trial run of vaccinating 200 city and school employees (100 each). The clinic went smoothly, she said, so this week they will be expanding the efforts up to do even more vaccinations.
The Hampton Health Department has registration available for those 65 and up. Fill out the form by clicking here.
They are actively contacting people 75 and up to schedule appointments, because those people are at the highest risk of complications from covid. When enough vaccine is available, they will contact those 65 and up. If you are in 1B due to other medical complications, you can register by clicking here.
People can also call 757-594-7496 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but call volumes are very high and the lines are often busy.
Norfolk
The Norfolk Department of Public Health is vaccinating the following priority groups:
Phase 1a includes health care workers and residents in long term care facilities.
Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine.
If you fall in any of the groups below, you can preregister using the Norfolk online form. If you need assistance filling the form online, call 757-664-SHOT.
Norfolk is starting to vaccinate the following groups within Phase 1b:
- Police, Fire, and Hazmat
- Childcare/K-12 Faculty/Staff (public and private) and childcare providers
- Anyone ages 65 and older
Once the groups above are vaccinated, Norfolk will expand vaccination efforts to the groups below:
- Individuals 16-64 years with high-risk medical conditions
- Food and Agriculture (including veterinarians)
- Manufacturing
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers and Mail carriers (USPS and private)
- Officials needed to maintain continuity of government (including judges and public facing judicial workers)
- People working in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps
Poquoson
The local site says questions on when you can get vaccinated should be directed to Newport News VDH (Peninsula District) at (757) 594-7069 from Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Local website also directs residents to Virginia state website which has a vaccination survey and information found by clicking here.
Williamsburg
For questions about the vaccination distribution in Williamsburg and James City County, call the information line at 877-724-1954.
The Peninsula Health District, which encompasses the City of Williamsburg, James City County, York County, the City of Hampton, the City of Newport News, and the City of Poquoson — is in Phase 1B of the Virginia Department of Health's phased distribution system. However, there is a limited supply of the vaccine, so only select groups within Phase 1B are able to be vaccinated at this time.
The Peninsula Health Districtlaunched a sign-up form for people aged 65 and older. This form simply records people’s contact information; Peninsula Health District staff will contact those who have filled out the form to schedule a vaccination appointment, starting with those who are aged 75 and older. The district is in the start-up phase of a secondary clinic in its Ironbound Road location. It is currently scheduling a limited number of patients. Click above or here for the sign-up form.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.
York Co.
Beginning, January 22 the Peninsula Health District began closed “points of dispensing” (POD’s) COVID-19 vaccination clinics specifically for “Phase 1b” priority groups. The focus will be front line workers, those living in congregate settings and people 75 years of age and over. These individuals will be required to bring a form of identification such as a driver’s license and a work ID when applicable, in order to verify eligibility. Other
The Peninsula Health District has a registration portalavailable for those 65 and up to sign up for notification once the vaccine is available. Also, you can register by calling (757) 594-7496. Note: Those age 75 and up are being scheduled for vaccinations due to a higher risk of infection, while those aged 65 to 74 may wait three to four weeks before they are contacted for an appointment due to current vaccine supply. Click above or here for the sign-up form.
Portsmouth
Beginning, Tuesday, January 26, the Portsmouth Health District will conduct closed “point of dispensing” (POD) COVID-19 vaccination clinics specifically for “Phase 1b” priority groups. Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine, and includes police, fire and hazmat response personnel, those living and working in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps, childcare/K-12 teachers and staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, mail carriers (USPS and private), anyone age 65 and older, and those individuals 16-64 years with high risk medical conditions. Residents in Phase 1a will still be provided opportunities to receive the vaccine. These individuals will be required to bring a personal form of identification such as a driver’s license, and may also be asked to show proof of qualification, such as a work ID, in order to verify eligibility. These PODs are specifically for Phase 1b and 1a; COVID-19 vaccine is not available to the general public and these are not public events.
Essential employees will be scheduled through their employers. Vaccination planning teams are reaching out to coordinate with employers in Phase 1b. Employers of Phase 1b essential create a spreadsheet with all the qualifying employees- proper name, contact email (and mobile phone if desired), and indicate which employees has expressed a willingness to accept the vaccine.
Individuals 65 years and older and those 16-64 years with high risk medical conditions should complete the online survey by clicking here or call (757) 405-1800 or email phd.info@vdh.virginia.gov to schedule an appointment. The health district is experiencing high call volumes and ask that callers be patient.
Gloucester
Gloucester County launched a COVID-19 Vaccination Resource Center on Tuesday in coordination with and in support of the Three Rivers Health District, our regional office of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), covering the 10 counties of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. The call center, which can be reached by dialing 804-824-2733, will be operational Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays.
While the Vaccination Resource Center is being operated by Gloucester County staff members, VDH representatives are also on hand to support County staff and help answer citizen questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition to the newly activated Vaccination Resource Center, residents are encouraged to visit the statewide website below to fill out a form and be notified when the vaccine is available to them. Call volumes into the Vaccination Resource Center are expected to be very high for the foreseeable future. Residents are asked to remain patient and keep trying if all lines are busy when attempting to call in.
Local website directs residents to Virginia state website which has a vaccination survey and information found by clicking here.
Mathews Co.
People eligible for COVID 19 vaccination in phase 1b seeking a vaccination appointment can contact their health care providers for initial consultation. Any eligible people who cannot receive vaccination through their health care system, or anyone with a COVID 19 related question, should call the COVID-19 resource center at 804-824-2733 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Many individuals have used a registration tool on the VDH website to determine their phase group eligibility. Officials are requesting the managers of this online tool to provide them with the contact information of individuals in the Three Rivers Health District who register. They will reach out to eligible individuals who have contacted officials by phone or through the online tool to offer vaccination appointments as they come available, the county website said.
Local website directs residents to Virginia state website which has a vaccination survey and information found by clicking here.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach moved to vaccinating people in Phase 1B on January 25. Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine, and includes frontline essential workers, anyone age 65 and older, and those individuals age 16-64 years with high-risk medical conditions.
The local site pre-registers individuals who live or work in Virginia Beach for the COVID-19 vaccine. Once registered, you will be included on the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health’s virtual wait list. As the vaccine is rolled out in phases AND your eligibility matches the next phase, you will receive an email with a link to the State’s scheduling system where you will be able to select the date and time to receive the vaccine.
Click here for the registration form and to learn more.
Franklin, Isle of Wight Co., Southampton Co., and Suffolk
The Western Tidewater Health District moved into Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccinations this week.
Based on the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Phase 1B includes frontline essential workers, people 65 years of age and older, and people between the ages of 18 and 64 who have a high-risk medical condition. A full breakdown of Phase 1B can be found here.
Organizations that fall into the categories outlined in Phase 1B are asked to email Will Drewery, district emergency manager at will.drewery@vdh.virginia.gov to gain access to the online scheduling portal.
Citizens 65 and older who are unable to obtain vaccine through their healthcare provider or a pharmacy are asked to call one of the following numbers to make an appointment
- Suffolk (757) 514-4781
- Isle of Wight (757) 279-3070
- Franklin (757) 562-6109
- Southampton (757) 653-3040
On February 1, Isle of Wight County officials said due to a limited number of vaccines that were given to the Western Tidewater Health District this week, all appointments for first doses of the vaccine that were scheduled at the Workforce Development Center in Franklin and the Smithfield Center in Smithfield have been canceled for that week. They say all second dose appointments scheduled for these locations will still be honored as second doses of the vaccine comes from a separate allocation.