March 25, 2021
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-488-5004
West Piedmont Health District Moves to Phase 1c
(MARTINSVILLE, Va.) – The Virginia Department of Health’s West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) today announced that it will move into 1c COVID-19 vaccinations while continuing to inoculate residents in phases 1a and 1b.
“To date, more than 47,000 people in the WPHD have been vaccinated,” said West Piedmont Health District Director Dr. Kerry Gateley. “Vaccine supplies have increased significantly.”
“Hospital partners Carilion Clinic and Sovah-Martinsville have worked very hard to administer as many vaccines as we can supply”, Gateley said. “Because of their willingness to hold large vaccination events, most 1a and 1b populations seeking vaccines have received them.”
Phase 1a prioritized health care personnel and those in long-term care facilities, and those were the first to receive vaccine. Phase 1b prioritizes those 65 and older and frontline essential workers and people who are at increased risk of severe illness (as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html). Phase 1c includes other essential workers, in this 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
All phases are identified in detail at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.
Overlap of vaccination of phases may occur to ensure people in each phase are vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Vaccines remain available only by pre-registration and appointment. To pre-register, or to update your pre-registration record, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682). English- and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Translation services also are available, in more than 100 languages. For TTY, dial 7-1-1.