Local COVID-19 vaccination scheduling and prioritization information

While questions have arisen about problems with our Health District’s delegating management of the process for vaccine registration in Warren County to an overburdened Valley Health online system, below are the Friday, February 5, Warren County Emergency Services COVID-19 vaccination process updates.

Unfortunately, due to limited vaccine availability beginning at the federal level there are no first-shots of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine scheduled for the coming week in Warren County. Rather, the week of February 7-13 there will be three “closed” vaccination days for second-shots for high-priority groups 1a and 1b who received first doses in the third and fourth weeks of January. There is a recommended three-week gap between first and second doses.

To clarify the categories by which vaccine priorities are being determined, we will begin this update with a section on existing COVID-19 priority category parameters, followed by next week’s schedule and sign-up information for those wishing to volunteer to help with the ongoing distribution process. As to the online registration issues, stay tuned – information will be published as it becomes available.

Above, Virginia vaccination statistics reported by the Va. Dept. of Health, as of late afternoon Feb. 5; below, Warren County’s stats from same report. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

COMMUNITY INFORMATION:

1. e.  PRIORITIZED DISTRIBUTION:  The CDC’s Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prioritized the initial distribution of the vaccine (as available) to health care personnel (hospital and EMS based) and residents of long-term care facilities.  Other Phase I groups (in order) include essential workers, people at higher risk for severe disease (over age of 75); Phase II – other populations; and Phase III – the general public.  Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccination began late last month in Warren County.

ix. December 2020:  Lord Fairfax Health District began Phase 1a distribution of the vaccine last week and this week (Clarke and Warren County first responders/age 75+).

1. Health Care personnel (Round 1 complete, Round 2 planned)
2. LTCF Residents and Staff (see below)

x. January 2021:  The CDC is allocating the vaccine directly to CVS to vaccinate Phase 1a long term care residents.  CVS began this process locally this month (going directly to our long-term care facilities).

1. Commonwealth Senior Living (Round 1&2 complete, 3 scheduled)
2. Fox Trail Senior Living (Round 1 complete, Round 2&3 scheduled)
3. Heritage Hall (TBD; should be scheduled in the next two weeks)
4. Hidden Springs (Round 1&2 complete; 3 TBD)
5. Lynn Care (Round 1&2 complete; 3 TBD)
6. Shenandoah Senior Living (Round 1&2 complete; 3 scheduled)
7. Woods Cove (Round 1 complete, Round 2 scheduled)

xi. January 2021:  The next allocation (“Phase 1b”) of vaccinations the County receives will be for front-line essential workers and persons age 75 and older.  Front-line essential workers include (in priority order):

1. Police, Fire, and HAZMAT(Round 1 complete, Round 2 as required)
2. Corrections workers(Round 1 complete, Round 2 as required)
3. Childcare, K-12 Teachers/Staff(Round 1 complete, Round 2 as required)
4. Food and Agriculture (TBD)
5. Manufacturing (TBD)
6. U.S. Postal Service workers (TBD)
7. Public Transit workers (TBD)
8. Grocery Store workers (TBD)
9. Officials needed to maintain continuity of government (TBD)
10. Persons Age 75 (65) and older (Round 1 ongoing, Round 2 scheduled)

xii. The following allocation (“Phase 1c”) of vaccinations will be for other essential workers, persons age 64-75, and persons age 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions.  Other essential workers include (in priority order):

1. Transportation and Logistics (all below 1-10 categories planning TBD)
2. Food Service
3. Shelter and Housing (construction)
4. Finance
5. IT and Communication
6. Energy
7. Media
8. Legal
9. Public Safety (engineers)
10. Water and Wastewater

xiii. There is no date established for the Phase 1c allocations at this time.

f. No further details available at this time, more to follow.

2. Valley Health – VDH Lord Fairfax Health District Vaccine Information (as of 2/5/2020)

On our Feb. 3 visit to the distribution site we encountered former Front Royal Mayor Gene Tewalt and wife Juanita, getting their second shots, as was this reporter. That IS a thumbs up, Gene.

1. NEXT WEEK (Feb. 7-13):  There is a limited amount of vaccine that will be distributed to the Lord Fairfax Health District (includes Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, and Winchester) next week.  Our local/District system is set-up to maximize distribution of the vaccine, once it is available.  The limiting factor is the national supply chain distribution of the vaccine down to the local level.  We ask for everyone’s continued patience as we work through this monumental process.
   1. Valley Health will host three closed COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics at the 15^th St. Gym; this is for “second dose” vaccinations only (for those that received the “first dose” on January 20, 2021 or January 21, 2021 at the 15th St. Gym).
   2. There are no planned “first dose” vaccination clinics next week at the 15^thSt. Gym.
   3. In general, the Lord Fairfax Health District/Valley Health has distributed approximately 35,000 does of the vaccine.  The partnership between the LFHD and VH is outstanding.  The volunteer support of all of our COVID vaccination clinics is remarkable.  We are only limited locally by the availability of the vaccine.
2. VACCINE SIGN-UP:  In partnership with Valley Health and the Lord Fairfax Health District, distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is now occurring in Warren County.  For the most up-to-date information on where and when to locally receive the vaccine, visit:

i. https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/patients-visitors/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/covid-19-vaccinations/

Above, the entrance to the gym at the 15th Street Health and Human Services Complex where local distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is centered. Below, waiting to serve you – volunteers including greeters, navigators, pharmacists, observers and vaccinators make the process easy, safe and pleasant once you are qualified and scheduled for your vaccine appointments.

c. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  In order to distribute the COVID-19 vaccination in quickest and most efficient manner, volunteers are needed to fill essential roles in the operation of the Warren County Point of Distribution (POD) site at the 15^thSt. Gym.  The six essential roles are:

ii.  Greeter:  an adult that checks patients in and directs them to the next station
iii. Navigator:  a clinical provider that reviews forms and looks for any “red flags”
vi.  Observer:  an adult that monitors patients for 15 minutes after the injection of the vaccination to monitor for any adverse side effects; must have Basic Life Support certification or above
v.  Pharmacist:  prepares the vaccine for injection; must be currently licensed
vi.  Runner/Floater:  monitors vaccine inventory and assists in communicating between POD stations
vii.  Vaccinator:  a health care provider that administers the COVID-19 vaccination; must be a currently licensed/certified LPN, RN, M.D., D.O., AEMT, EMT-I, EMT-P

d. SIGN-UP GENIUS:  If you meet the above criteria, and are willing to volunteer during the operation of the COVID-19 POD in Warren County, please visit the below site to sign-up:

 viii.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/