Vaccine limits eased again

April 02, 2021

Anyone in Virginia who is 16 or older will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination starting April 18.

Gov. Ralph Northam made that announcement Thursday morning during a vaccination clinic visit in northern Virginia.

Nearly every Virginian in the highest risk groups who has pre-registered for a vaccination appointment has received one, and those still on the pre-registration list will receive appointment invitations within the next two weeks, the governor’s office noted in a press release.

More than 3.7 million doses have been administered so far in Virginia. More than one in three adults have received at least one dose and one in five Virginians are fully vaccinated.

Twenty-one of Virginia’s 35 local health districts — included the two that serve the coalfield region — have already started vaccinating essential workers in Phase 1c after providing appointments to everyone eligible in Phases 1a or 1b on the pre-registration list. Beginning April 4, districts that have invited everyone pre-registered in Phase 1c may invite members of the general public who have pre-registered. Based on the supply projected by the federal government, all local health districts will have enough vaccine to open appointments to the general public by April 18. Those at highest risk will continue to receive priority in the scheduling process.

Everyone who lives or works in Virginia should pre-register so they can be notified when they are eligible for vaccination and an appointment is available. To pre-register, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877/829-4682; TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages. Videoconferencing in American Sign Language is also available at vaccinate.virginia.gov.