A Special Edition of Chesterfield's Weekly E-Newsletter |
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A SPECIAL UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATION EFFORTS |
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Scroll to the bottom for more helpful links and resources to stay up to date on all things Chesterfield |
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A Letter from the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator |
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A message to Chesterfield County citizens:
Many citizens have reached out to Chesterfield County with questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and how and when they can receive it. The following information is meant to define Chesterfield County’s specific role in the state’s vaccine campaign and connect citizens to the appropriate places for more information about the vaccine and how to get it. We encourage recipients of this message to share it with others.
The state government is responsible for rolling out the vaccine to the general public, and it is the Virginia Department of Health’s responsibility to coordinate with other organizations and businesses to distribute the vaccine and provide the shots to citizens. Chesterfield County government’s role, like that of all other local governments throughout Virginia, is to provide vaccines to government and school employees.
Local health districts, including the Chesterfield Health District, are part of the Virginia Department of Health, or VDH, which is a state agency. The VDH’s health districts form a network throughout Virginia that is being used to roll out the vaccine to citizens. Citizens who have received information from the Chesterfield Health District, or any other local health district, are receiving information from the state.
While Chesterfield County government is committed to cooperating and assisting the VDH’s local health district, to the degree that we may, the county government’s primary responsibilities, again, remain to vaccinate public employees within the prioritization guidelines set by the state and direct citizens to the appropriate state information for guidance about receiving the vaccine.
The VDH has defined eligible groups to be vaccinated by establishing vaccination prioritization guidelines for all localities. The VDH’s health districts are responsible for ordering the vaccine to be administered to the general public. Chesterfield County can order vaccines through VDH, but only to be administered to county and school employees, as determined by the state’s guidelines. Residents of long-term care facilities will be vaccinated through a national contract with Walgreens and CVS.
To determine when you may be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, use the state’s When Can I Get Vaccinated? tool from the VDH. Once you complete the quick questionnaire and submit it to the VDH, they will contact you regarding when, where and how to get the vaccine.
Chesterfield County empathizes with citizens who are concerned and frustrated with the state’s vaccine rollout, and we will continue to push the state to expedite the process as much as possible and as the availability of the vaccine increases. We have also encouraged the state to expand the roles of local government in the vaccine campaign to further expedite the process, but to no avail. Chesterfield will continue to do so as we lobby for all citizens who want to receive the vaccine.
Please use the links above to determine if you are currently eligible to receive the vaccine and when it may be possible to get the shot. Chesterfield County government also has a special webpage to help county residents stay informed about the pandemic at https://www.chesterfield.gov/coronavirus.
Sincerely,
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James A. Holland, Chair
Dale District Supervisor
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Christopher M. Winslow, Vice Chair
Clover Hill District Supervisor
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Jim A. Ingle
Bermuda District Supervisor
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Kevin P. Carroll
Matoaca District Supervisor
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Leslie A. T. Haley
Midlothian District Supervisor
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Joseph P. Casey, Ph.D.
County Administrator
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Understanding the Phased Rollout of
COVID-19 Vaccines
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COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in phases. The Chesterfield Health District, a division of VDH, began vaccinating those classified under Phase 1a on Dec. 23 and those classified under Phase 1b on Jan. 18.
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Find Out When You Can
Receive a COVID-19 Vaccination
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Unsure if you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination? Interested in learning when you will be?
VDH offers a free online tool you can use to find out which phase of the vaccination campaign you fall in. Click the button below to get started.
Once you complete the quick questionnaire and submit to VDH, they will contact you regarding when, where and how to get the vaccine.
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Community Conversations: COVID-19 Vaccines |
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On Jan. 13, Chesterfield Health District Director Dr. Alexander Samuel provided an overview of the COVID-19 vaccines and efforts to inoculate eligible residents and workers in the region.
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Additional COVID-19 Information |
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Other important information and updates on resources for Virginians can be found at:
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Updates from Governor Ralph Northam |
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Governor Northam Announces New Steps to Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
Jan. 6, 2021: Governor Ralph Northam today announced new actions to support the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution program and accelerate the pace of vaccinations across Virginia.
Governor Northam is taking the following steps to help providers increase the rate of vaccinations as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible:
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Vaccination goal. Governor Northam set an initial goal of vaccinating 25,000 Virginians each day when supply allows.
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‘Use it or lose it’ model. Medical facilities will be required to put the vaccine they receive into arms as soon as possible, or risk having future vaccine allotments reduced.
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Danny T.K. Avula to lead vaccination efforts in Virginia. Governor Northam appointed Dr. Avula, who serves as director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health Departments to coordinate work between state officials, local health departments, hospitals, and private providers.
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Expanded priority groups. Governor Northam announced that K-12 teachers and child care workers will be among the next priority groups to receive vaccinations after Group A, and outlined the populations that will be included in Groups B and C.
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Elevating the Virginia National Guard. As the Commonwealth receives more doses, the Virginia National Guard will provide logistical support and help local health departments will administering vaccines.
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Chesterfield Health Department Free
COVID-19 Testing in January
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As part of a statewide push to increase testing across the commonwealth, the Chesterfield Health Department is hosting free COVID-19 testing events January.
The free indoor, walk-up testing events will occur on the following days and locations:
Monday: Jan. 25 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Second Baptist Church
5100 West Hundred Road
Wednesdays: Jan. 20 and 27 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
St. Augustine’s Catholic Church
4400 Beulah Road
Saturday: Jan. 23 – 10 a.m. to noon
Chesterfield Health Department
9501 Lucy Corr Circle
No reservation is necessary. Additional testing events are pending and will be announced once finalized.
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Learn More About Your District |
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