Virginia launches statewide pre-registration system for COVID-19 vaccine

The Virginia Department of Health today launched a new, centralized website that allows Virginians to easily pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine. The site is designed as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to allow people to pre-register online, check that they are pre-registered, and access additional information about Virginia’s vaccination roll-out.

Virginians who have previously pre-registered through their local health district have been automatically imported into the new system and do not need to pre-register again. Data migration is continuing throughout the week, so it may take several days for all names to appear in the centralized system. Everyone who has previously registered is still on the list, and their status will not be affected.

The Virginia Department of Health expects millions of unique visits to the site on Tuesday, and information technology teams will be addressing back-end components as needed throughout the day. Anyone who cannot get through immediately should try again.

An accompanying hotline number will launch Feb. 17, staffed by some 750 people, to help register people by phone and answer questions related to COVID-19 and the vaccination process.

The new system does not register people for CVS vaccinations, however. Those who want to be considered for vaccinations at the 36 CVS locations statewide that are currently providing them to seniors 65 and older should attempt to register through cvs.com.

Virginia has administered at least one dose of vaccine to more than 12% of the state’s population, but because supplies are so limited, it is expected to take a number of months to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccine. Local officials believe they could complete Phase 1A and the first portion of Phase 1B sometime in March and then begin processing people in the next portions of 1B, including those 16 to 64 with pre-existing conditions.