Pharmacies statewide open vaccine access to all of Phase 1B

The Virginia Department of Health announced Wednesday that Federal Retail Pharmacy partner pharmacies statewide will expand within Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination process to offer vaccines to people 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, as well as frontline essential workers, including:
• police, fire, and hazmat
• corrections and homeless shelters
• food and agriculture (including veterinarians)
• manufacturing
• grocery stores (including farmers’ market food vendors)
• public transit (including rideshare drivers)
• mail carriers (USPS and private)
• officials needed to maintain continuity of government (including judges and public facing judicial workers)
• clergy/faith leaders
• janitorial/cleaning

To date, pharmacies had been offering shots to those 65 and older.

The expansion follows the state’s recent announcement that some Virginia communities could move from Phase 1B to Phase 1C, based upon a variety of factors, including vaccine demand decreases despite strong efforts to engage eligible populations, particularly among those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

There are more than 300 pharmacies currently receiving vaccines within this federal program, which has the ability to expand to more 1,000 pharmacies across Virginia. Pharmacy expansion is based on equitable access, demand, and supply.

Anyone interested in being vaccinated at a local pharmacy may visit http://VaccineFinder.org to find eligible pharmacy locations, hours, phone numbers and scheduling links where available.

While many pharmacies have continued to work directly with the health departments to vaccinate vulnerable populations, some pharmacies have online scheduling for vaccine appointments.

Pre-register for a vaccine at http://vaccinate.virginia.gov or by calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (TTY users dial 7-1-1).