Loudoun expands COVID-19 vaccinations in Phase 1b Priority Group

As of March 19, the Loudoun County Health Department will begin expanding COVID-19 vaccination opportunities to all Virginia Department of Health Phase 1b priority groups, which include people 65 years of age, people 16-64 years of age with high-risk medical conditions, and eleven categories of front-line essential workers. The first appointments for people in the expanded 1b group will be for March 24.

“We have made significant progress on vaccinating members of the current priority groups and we are beginning to see consistent increases in supplies of vaccine, which makes this expansion possible now,” said Loudoun County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend. “This expansion will enable us to vaccinate more members of our community in the coming weeks as the pace of vaccination also increases.  We will continue to prioritize our over-65 population and our 16-64 populations with underlying medical conditions, as well as other 1a and 1b groups as they sign up.”

The Phase 1b list of essential workers includes:

• Police, fire and hazmat personnel
• Corrections and homeless shelter workers
• Childcare/PreK-12 teachers/staff (public and private)
• Food and agriculture workers (including veterinarians)
• Manufacturing workers
• 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

As Loudoun County continues to invite people who have pre-registered and are on our waitlist to make vaccination appointments, invitations to make appointments will now be offered to anyone who meets the current Phase 1b priority group criteria. Appointments will continue to be offered in the order in which pre-registration forms were received.

Anyone who has not yet submitted a pre-registration form for a COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged to submit an online pre-registration form at vaccinate.virginia.gov. Anyone who does not have access to the internet may pre-register for a vaccine by calling 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

“The COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective,” added Dr. Goodfriend. “Getting as many people vaccinated as soon as possible is the key factor in bringing an end to the pandemic.”

Loudoun County anticipates the ability to further expand the vaccinations to the Phase 1c priority group in April. The Virginia Department of Health has announced that anyone who is over the age of 16 and lives or works in Virginia will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2 of the state’s vaccination efforts, which is expected to begin by May 1.For more information about COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Loudoun County, visit loudoun.gov/COVID19vaccine.