All frontline essential workers can now register for a COVID vaccination
Beginning today, March 30, the Fairfax County Health Department is allowing everyone in Phase 1b to register for a COVID-19 vaccination.
The latest subgroups in the 1b frontline essential workers group who can now get vaccinated include officials needed to maintain continuity of government, clergy and faith leaders, and janitorial and cleaning staff.
Due to the increase in the county’s vaccine supply, the Fairfax County Health Department expects to move into Phase 1C (other essential workers) by mid-April and Phase 2 (everyone age 16 and up) by May 1.
Fairfax County has administered a total of 357,450 first and second vaccine doses. The county’s weekly allocation of doses from the Virginia Department of Health has increased to 55,470.
The Health Department is currently making appointments for people who registered on March 16. Over 357,000 people have registered, and nearly 41,500 people are on the waitlist.
Related story: Grocery workers can now register for the COVID vaccine
The “officials needed to maintain continuity of government” category includes federal, state, and local government employees who live or work in the Fairfax Health District in these roles:
- Full and part-time government employees.
- Members of boards, authorities, and commissions.
- On-site government contractors.
- Judicial employees (commonwealth’s attorneys, court personnel, and judges).
The Virginia Department of Health offers examples of the types of workers covered in 1b here.
Employees should be prepared to show some form of work-related identification or paystub at their appointment.
Clergy and faith leaders eligible for a vaccination include formally designated individuals who perform religious functions critical to the continuity of a congregation, house of worship, or faith community, Specific examples include ministers, priests, nuns, pastors, bishops, rabbis, and imams, pujaris, cardinals, and apostles.
Being registered for a covid vaccine and actually getting one are two different things. According to the Fairfax County covid vaccination dashboard, as of today, over 33,000 people are still waiting for appointments. People should indeed register with Fairfax County as soon as they are eligible but should also regularly (at least daily) check pharmacy websites for vaccine appointment availability. I registered with the County on January 18, the first day on which registration was allowed, but found and made appointments at CVS for both vaccine doses before the County even contacted me to indicate that I could schedule an appointment. Again, this isn't a statement against registering, — you should definitely register with the County — but do look for appointments on the various pharmacy websites as well. The sooner everyone is vaccinated, the better for all of us.