VDH COVID-19 Vaccination Response
VDH COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1a In Depth
While the supply is limited, COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to specific groups of people over a number of phases. Virginia guidance was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that aim to (1) decrease COVID-19 deaths and serious disease, (2) preserve functioning of society, and (3) reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.
Virginia’s Phase 1a: Vaccinate Healthcare Personnel and Residents of Long Term Care Facilities
Definition of Healthcare Personnel (HCP)
- Behavioral health providers
- Community health workers
- Dental assistants, hygienists, dentists
- EMT/first responders serving as EMT extenders
- Environmental services staff
- Healthcare trainees
- Home health workers
- Human service providers
- Infection control and quality assurance personnel
- Laboratorians
- Mortuary service providers (e.g. morticians/funeral home staff)
- Nurses, nursing assistants
- Optometrists
- Personal care aides
- Pharmacists, pharmacy techs and staff
- Physicians, physician assistants
- Public-facing public health workers
- Radiological techs (and other diagnostic/therapeutic techs)
- Respiratory, physical, speech and occupational techs
- Social workers
- Primary caregivers for persons with severe chronic medical conditions or with intellectual or developmental disabilities requiring a high level of daily care
HCP by Order of Risk
To the extent possible, vaccination opportunities should first be aimed at those at greater risk before those at less risk. However, opportunities to vaccinate other HCP efficiently and quickly should not be missed.
- Those who directly engage in the care of or interact with patients known or suspected of COVID-19, or who have direct exposure to potentially infectious materials from patients known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19.
- Healthcare personnel, including primary caregivers, who interact with patients at higher risk for infection due to the patients’ individual risk factors but are not known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19 (dialysis, residential care facilities and EMS.)
- Employees and contracted personnel not otherwise vaccinated per the above categories whose duties may require access to clinical settings at health system facilities or who are critical to the ongoing operations of health system facilities.
- Healthcare personnel, who interact with patients not known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19.
How HCP Can Access Vaccination
Healthcare systems and local health departments are working collaboratively to vaccinate healthcare personnel.
- The ability to schedule appointments will depend on the supply of vaccine available.
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS are vaccinating their staff. Many are vaccinating non-health system staff as well.
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS are compiling lists of healthcare providers who are not affiliated with a hospital or health system and are reaching out to those groups as quickly as possible. Phase 1a primary caregivers who do not have access to the vaccine through their health system or healthcare providers should contact their local health department. If unable to get in contact with the local health department, contact the VDH COVID-19 Call Center at 877-ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343) for assistance.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS
- Determine which of your employees are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19.
- If you haven’t yet been contacted by a health system or local health department, contact your local health department. If unable to get in contact with the local health department, contact the VDH COVID-19 Call Center at 877-ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343) for assistance.
Residents and Staff within Long Term Care settings
Definition of Long-Term Care Facilities by Order of Risk
- Skilled nursing facilities
- In-patient hospice facilities
- Assisted living facilities
- Residential care communities; e.g., programs of all-inclusive care for the elderly, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, religious nonmedical health care institutions, etc.
- Intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities
- State veterans homes
- Other adult care homes, family care homes, group homes
Long-Term Care staff include:
- All staffing working in facilities listed above
- Home health workers (e.g., nursing, respiratory therapists, health aides) who enter the need to go into the homes of individuals with chronic, complex conditions and/or disabilities to deliver nursing and/or daily living care
- Home health providers who deliver health care services for older adults, people with disabilities, and others with chronic health conditions who live independently in the community with supports and services
How LTCF Staff and Residents Can Access Vaccination
In Virginia, most LTCF residents and staff will be vaccinated by CVS and Walgreens teams through the Federal LTCF Pharmacy Partnership program. A small number of facilities that were not included in the program will work with their local health districts to ensure vaccination of their staff and residents.
VDH COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1b In Depth
While the supply is limited, COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to specific groups of people over a number of phases. Virginia guidance was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that aim to (1) decrease COVID-19 deaths and serious disease, (2) preserve functioning of society, and (3) reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.
Virginia’s Phase 1b: Vaccinate Frontline Essential Workers, People Aged 65 years and Older, People aged 16 through 64 years with a High Risk Medical Condition or Disability that Increases Their Risk of Severe Illness from COVID-19, and People Living in Correctional Facilities, Homeless Shelters and Migrant Labor Camps
Frontline Essential Workers
Definition of Frontline Essential Workers
Workers who are in sectors essential to the functioning of society, are at substantially higher risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and cannot work remotely. Frontline Essential Workers include:
- Police, Fire, and Hazmat
- Corrections and homeless shelter workers
- Childcare/PreK-12 Teachers/Staff
- Food and Agriculture (including veterinarians)
- Manufacturing
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers
- Mail carriers (USPS and private)
- Officials needed to maintain continuity of government (including judges and public facing judicial workers)
- Clergy/Faith Leaders
- Janitorial/Cleaning staff
The Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response is a framework that can be used to evaluate certain occupational groups to support prioritization decisions when the vaccine is in short supply. It is intended to be used together with CDC-ACIP and VDH recommendations. The definitions provided in the guidance document can be used to better understand certain types of workers.
Frontline Essential Workers by Order of Vaccination Planning
Because there is not sufficient supply at this time to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1b at the same time, local health districts will reach out to engage the Frontline Essential Worker groups in vaccination planning in the following order:
- Police, Fire, and Hazmat
- Corrections and homeless shelter workers
- Childcare/PreK-12 Teachers/Staff
- Food and Agriculture (including veterinarians)
- Manufacturing
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers
- Mail carriers (USPS and private)
- Officials needed to maintain continuity of government (including judges and public facing judicial workers)
- Clergy/Faith Leaders
- Janitorial/Cleaning staff
Overlap of vaccination of groups is expected to ensure people in Phase 1b are vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible. Opportunities to vaccinate Frontline Essential Workers should not be missed.
How Frontline Essential Workers Can Access Vaccination
Local health departments, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and employer-based occupational health units are working collaboratively to vaccinate frontline essential workers. Frontline essential workers may be most likely to receive the vaccine through employer-based vaccination clinics. Others will get it through their local health department or through arrangements with pharmacies and healthcare providers. Information will be coming out from local health departments, employers, and healthcare providers about how and when you can receive your COVID-19 vaccine. The ability to schedule appointments will depend on the supply of vaccine available.
People Aged 65 years and Older
The risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. The goal of vaccinating this population is to decrease the burden of disease and death caused by COVID-19. During Phase 1b, roughly half of each local health district's allocation of doses should be used for this population.
How Persons Aged 65 years and Older Can Access Vaccination
Many of the people who are included in Phase 1b because of their age will be offered the vaccine through their healthcare provider. Others in this category will be able to access vaccination through their local health department or through arrangements with healthcare systems and pharmacies.
People Aged 16 through 64 years with Certain Conditions or Disabilities that Increases Their Risk of Severe Illness from COVID-19
This group is included in Phase 1b because they are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, which can result in hospitalization and death. The goal of vaccinating this population is to decrease the burden of disease and death caused by COVID-19.
The list of medical conditions is updated routinely as new data become available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
Healthcare providers may use clinical judgement to determine if a patient’s medical condition or disability warrants prioritization for vaccination.
How Persons Aged 16 through 64 Years with a High Risk Medical Condition or Disability Can Access Vaccination
Many of the people who are included in Phase 1b because of their age will be offered the vaccine through their healthcare provider. Others in this category will be able to access vaccination through their local health department or through arrangements with healthcare systems and pharmacies. Information will be coming out from local health departments and healthcare providers about how and when people in Phase 1b can receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
People Living in Correctional Facilities, Homeless Shelters, and Migrant Labor Camps
People living in correctional and detention facilities are at greater risk for COVID-19 because of close living arrangements with other people. People living in homeless shelters are at increased risk because homeless services are often provided in congregate settings, which could facilitate the spread of infection. Because many people who are experiencing homelessness are older adults or have underlying medical conditions, they may also be at increased risk for severe illness. Individuals in migrant labor camps may experience living arrangements or working conditions that put them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. Some migrant workers also have limited access to health care, as well as certain underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, compared to the rest of the U.S. population.
How Persons Living in Correctional Facilities, Homeless Shelters, and Migrant Labor Camps Can Access Vaccination
The Department of Corrections, local and regional jails, and their occupational health programs will vaccinate staff and persons living in correctional facilities, with local health department assistance as needed. Those living in homeless shelters and migrant labor camps will receive the vaccine through their local health department or through arrangements with healthcare systems and pharmacies.
VDH COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1c In Depth
While the supply is limited, COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to specific groups of people over a number of phases. Virginia guidance was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations that aim to (1) decrease COVID-19 deaths and serious disease, (2) preserve functioning of society, and (3) reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.
Virginia’s Phase 1c: Vaccinate Other Essential Workers
Other Essential Workers
Definition of Other Essential Workers
In Phase 1b, frontline essential workers were included. Vaccination will be allocated to additional essential workers in Phase 1c. These workers are in sectors essential to the functioning of society and/or are at higher risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Other Essential Workers include:
- Energy
- Water, wastewater, and waste removal workers (includes recycling removal workers)
- Housing and Construction
- Food Service
- Transportation and Logistics
- Institutions of Higher Education Faculty/Staff
- Finance
- Information Technology & Communication
- Media
- Legal Services
- Public Safety (engineers)
- Other Public Health Workers
The Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response is a framework that can be used to evaluate certain occupational groups to support prioritization decisions when the vaccine is in short supply. It is intended to be used together with CDC-ACIP and VDH recommendations. The definitions provided in the guidance document can be used to better understand certain types of workers.
Other Essential Workers by Order of Vaccination Planning
Because there is not sufficient supply at this time to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1c at the same time, local health districts will reach out to engage the Other Essential Worker groups in vaccination planning in the following order:
- Energy
- Water, wastewater, and waste removal workers (includes recycling removal workers)
- Housing and Construction
- Food Service
- Transportation and Logistics
- Institutions of Higher Education Faculty/Staff
- Finance
- Information Technology & Communication
- Media
- Legal Services
- Public Safety (engineers)
- Other Public Health Workers
Overlap of vaccination of groups is expected to ensure people in Phase 1c are vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible. Opportunities to vaccinate Frontline Essential Workers should not be missed.
How Frontline Essential Workers Can Access Vaccination
Local health departments, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and employer-based occupational health units are working collaboratively to vaccinate other essential workers. Other essential workers may be most likely to receive the vaccine through employer-based vaccination clinics. Others will get it through their local health department or through arrangements with pharmacies and healthcare providers. Information will be coming out from local health departments, employers, and healthcare providers about how and when you can receive your COVID-19 vaccine. The ability to schedule appointments will depend on the supply of vaccine available.
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VDH Tele-Press Conferences
COVID-19 Vaccine Update - 2/26/21
(MP3 audio)COVID-19 Vaccine Update - 2/19/21
(MP3 audio) (Transcript)COVID-19 News Releases
Additional Pharmacy Networks Added to Federal Partnership to Provide No-Cost COVID-19 Vaccines (2/24/21)
Mount Rogers Health District and Wythe County Community Hospital Announce Vaccine Clinic (2/24/21)
Crater Health District COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic Rescheduled (2/23/21)
VDH Announces Walgreens Adding More Stores to Provide Testing at No Cost (2/22/21)
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