Health and Medicine
The Virginia Department of Health reports 6757 new positive COVID-19 test results statewide over the past 24 hours. Locally, 87 new cases, 2 new hospitalizations and 1 new death in Roanoke City. 113 new cases, 1 new hospitalization and 1 new death in Roanoke County. 36 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Salem. 34 new cases in Botetourt County.
Dr. Cynthia Morrow/VDH-VT photo
The Virginia Department of Health, Carilion Clinic and local school systems will hold a kick-off COVID-19 vaccine clinic for employees of public and private schools next Friday, most likely at the Salem Civic Center or at the Berglund Center. The goal is to vaccinate at least 2000 educators and school support staff. Each system will have to supply a list before then of who wants to receive the COVID vaccine so they can schedule appointments next Friday. Dr. Cynthia Morrow is director for the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts:
Dr. Cameron Webb from his campaign Facebook page (2020)
We haven’t heard the last of Dr. Cameron Webb, who made an unsuccessful bid for the 5th District Congressional seat last November as a Democrat. Webb has been selected by President-elect Joe Biden to be a Senior Policy Advisor for COVID-19 Equity. Webb is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, and Director of Health Policy and Equity at the UVA School of Medicine. On a recent live Facebook event Webb spoke about equity in distributing the COVID vaccines:
Governor Northam says Virginia is moving all state residents between 65 and 74 to COVID vaccine group 1b. That means many will be in line more quickly to receive the vaccines; until now, those 65-74 had been placed in phase 1c. Those 16-64 with underlying medical conditions are also moving to Phase 1b. The governor says vaccines are now being administered at 160 sites across Virginia, and plans are in place to speed up the vaccination pace as soon as greater amounts of doses become regularly available. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia officials announced changes Thursday that significantly expand the pool of people eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine as they also outlined plans for mass-vaccination clinics to speed up the pace of inoculations.
Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference in Richmond that the state would follow new federal guidance from President Donald Trump’s administration that urged states to immediately start vaccinating people who had previously been lower down the priority list. Newly included in what’s called Phase 1b of the state’s distribution plan are people age 65 and older and younger people with certain health problems that make them more vulnerable to the virus.
Demand for the vaccine is still expected to outpace supply, so not everyone newly eligible will be able to get a shot immediately. The state is currently receiving about 110,000 doses per week, Northam said.
Dr. Danny Avula, who was recently tapped by the governor to direct the state’s vaccine rollout efforts, said Virginia would be introducing fixed-site mass vaccination centers that would be open six or seven days a week to help meet the eventual goal of vaccinating 50,000 people a day.
Residents can expect “movement” on mass-vaccinations sites as soon as next week, he said, adding that more vaccines will also be available in the coming weeks through private providers and pharmacies.
Only some parts of the state in northern Virginia, southwest Virginia and the Eastern Shore have moved into phase 1b so far. Health districts in the rest of Virginia are still working to vaccinate the health care workers and long-term care facility residents in 1a. But Northam said all health districts would be there “by the end of the month” and asked for patience as the state works through the complicated logistics.
“We need people to get this vaccine. It is our only way out of this pandemic,” he said.
On schools, Northam said the state’s education department was issuing new guidelines on restarting in-person learning. The governor said the state’s new policy is: “schools need to be open, and here are the ways to do that safely.”
Northam also said that he was looking at eventually adjusting school calendars so that schools operate year-round, instead of taking lengthy summer breaks.
Officials also addressed concerns about possible civil unrest in the capital city over the weekend or in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Northam said public safety officials were well prepared to prevent any violence and the Virginia National Guard would be available to provide support if necessary.
“If you come here and act out, Virginia will be ready,” Northam said.
Virginians can now register on line (see link below) to be notified when your turn is nearing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination — an important step in promised state efforts to provide an orderly and timely vaccination program. The site asks you to provide information that helps determine which level of eligibility you fall into, and you are told to await emailed or texted information on how to confirm that eligibility. The website makes clear that signing up does not reserve a spot to receive the vaccine.
For now, those in Group 1a are receiving first attention. Virginians in 1b and 1c are advised they will be contacted once their phase is available. For other groups, it is basically a message saying we will get back to you in the future.
For those in Group 1a the website says: “Based on your answers, you are eligible for Phase 1a of Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. Submission of this form does NOT reserve a COVID-19 vaccine.”
For those falling into groups 1b or 1c, the site states: “Once your vaccine phase is available, you will be contacted by the Virginia Department of Health to verify your vaccine eligibility.
For those in later groups, the website says: “Based on your responses, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine in the future when it is offered to all people your age. See direct link below:
Dr. Cynthia Morrow/VDH-VT photo
The Virginia Department of Health is working to expand the distribution network for the COVID-19 vaccine in the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Systems – beyond the dominant health care system players in the region. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Dr. Cynthia Morrow/VDH-VT photo
Dr Cynthia Morrow with the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts said today the Department of Health is being “overwhelmed” with phone calls and e-mails from people wanting to know when then can get a COVID vaccine shot. Morrow asks those 75 and older in group “1-B” to stay home safely if they can for a extra few weeks – while more front line workers get the vaccine. In the meantime the VDH is recruiting additional partners outside of the region’s largest health care systems to administer the vaccine.
From VDH: Thank you for your inquiry about COVID-19 vaccine. As of Monday,
January 11, we are overwhelmed with inquiries, but are working as fast as possible to prepare for accepting registrations. If you do not qualify for a vaccine in Phase 1A or 1B, we cannot answer questions about the timeline or sign you up at this time. There is information on our website for those who qualify in Phase 1A or Phase 1B. Many essential employees who qualify will receive a vaccine through your place of employment. We are following CDC and VDH guidelines in rolling out vaccines to eligible
people. If you are age 75 or older, we ask your patience as we expect to provide more information later this week about registration. We know demand for vaccines is great.
We are working with local partners to help get shots to all who want them. You can sign up for more information on our website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/roanoke/covid-vaccine/or watch our facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/RoanokeCityAlleghanyHealthDistricts and local media for more information soon. If you would like to leave a message, please do so and we will follow up as we are able. This may take 2-3 days as we are overwhelmed with questions. Please do not leave multiple messages, as that will delay our ability to respond.
NEWS RELEASE: (ROANOKE, Virginia) — The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) are pleased to announce that we are working with our community partners to ensure a smooth a transition into Phase 1b starting on Monday, January 11, 2021. [In addition to people over 75, the 1b category covers people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters or migrant labor camps, as well as “’frontline essential workers.”]
We will be focusing on the prioritization strategies as outlined by the Governor and as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and adopted by Virginia Disaster Medical Advisory Committee and the Vaccine Advisory Workgroup. More information about who is eligible and what phase Virginia is in at any given time will be posted at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. Community members can best stay informed through the media, on our website and Facebook pages, and by visiting VDH’s FAQs at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-faq/.
“It will take time, patience, and flexibility for everyone who is in Phase 1b and who wants the COVID-19 vaccine to be able to receive it. This will not happen overnight. There is a great deal of planning and logistical work that still needs to be done to ensure that not only are we optimizing how many vaccines we can get into the arms of Virginians in our health districts, but that we are doing so in a way that ensures that health equity among those who are eligible to receive the vaccine. Because of differences in jurisdictions within our health districts, some areas may move into Phase 1b faster than others,” said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, RCAHD Health Director.
(FROM AP) — Some local health departments across Virginia will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines next week for limited portions of the general public as the state begins to move into its second phase of vaccine distribution.
The Virginia Department of Health said in a news release Friday that 11 local health districts expect to begin gradually adding vaccination opportunities for people who fall into what’s called Phase 1b of the state’s distribution plan, a group that includes people over age 75, incarcerated people and certain types of workers. All of the state is expected to move to Phase 1b before the end of January, the news release said.
“We are excited to begin vaccinating more people as we continue to work to put this pandemic behind us,” State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver said in a statement. “The number of calls to our VDH hotline and to our local health departments asking about vaccines is evidence that people want this protection. Our goal is to get shots into arms as quickly as possible.”
In addition to people over 75, the 1b category covers people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters or migrant labor camps, as well as “’frontline essential workers.” The state defines that group as people in jobs critical to the functioning of society who are at substantially higher risk of exposure to the virus. Included are police, childcare workers and teachers, grocery story workers and mail carriers. More guidance is available online.
Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ralph Northam, said Virginia elected officials would also be included in 1b.
“Elected officials are essential to the functioning of government, and many are required to regularly interact with the public as part of their job. Those who have high-risk medical conditions will be initially prioritized; lower-risk elected officials will be at the end of group 1b,” she wrote in an email.
In the current phase, 1a, only health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities have been eligible to receive a dose.
Earlier this week, Northam pledged that the state would be moving more quickly to distribute the vaccines and would implement a “use it or lose it” policy, saying health systems that don’t move fast enough to get shots into arms will receive fewer doses in future distribution rounds.
Data from the health department show Virginia has received nearly 482,000 doses of the vaccine so far and nearly 149,000 have been administered.
The state said the following health districts will be moving into phase 1b: Alexandria, Arlington, Cumberland Plateau, Fairfax, Lenowisco, Lord Fairfax, Loudoun, Mount Rogers, New River, Prince William and Roanoke County/Allegheny.
Marian Hunter, a spokeswoman for the state health department, said local health districts should have more information about vaccine availability on their websites by Monday. An interactive map showing which health district is in what distribution phase will also be available next week on the state health department website, she said.