Governor Northam says he knows Virginians are frustrated about the availability of the COVID vaccine, but he says the state has received assurances now from the federal government that the supply of vaccines will be increased and will remain steady going forward.
Virginia will be receiving a 16% increase in vaccines starting tomorrow. Northam says that increase is locked in and will allow the Virginia Dept. of Health to plan out a month in advance instead of week to week.
In addition, the VDH has created a new vaccine dashboard on their website to help Virginians track where vaccines are being distributed. Distribution is based on a health district's population.
The VDH is also preparing a new central website and call center for all Virginians to access to sign up for the vaccine. Right now every health district has its own system, and many are overwhelmed.
Executives from CVS and Walgreens say they will finish giving out vaccines to residents and employees of long-term and skilled care facilities in Virginia by the first week of February. After that, the companies will reallocate their resources to vaccinating the general public.
Northam says vaccinating those in group 1A, which includes health care workers, is just about complete. In the 1B phase, 50% of vaccines will be allocated to those 65 and older and 50% will be given to other frontline essential workers and those under 65 with an underlying health condition.
The Governor expects phase 1C, which includes any Virginian who wants a vaccine, to be completed by the end of summer.
In addition, Northam says his executive order reducing restaurant capacities and limiting social gatherings will be extended until the end of February.
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.
More information about COVID-19 is available at the VDH website.