Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

This email includes updates and information from the Fairfax County Health Department on the COVID-19 vaccination process. I have included several articles containing helpful facts about the vaccine, registration and frequently asked questions. Also, Delegate Rip Sullivan is hosting a virtual town hall tomorrow with the Virginia Department of Health Vaccine Coordinator, Dr. Danny Avula.

In addition, this email includes helpful tips from John's Hopkins University on how to make the air in your home safer during COVID-19, information on the first annual Smart City Challenge, and upcoming Stuff the Bus events.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors, and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,
John
Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccine in Fairfax
Since the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrived here in the Fairfax Health District in late December, thousands of local residents received their first dose. These include health care workers, frontline essential personnel and older adults.  

Public health teams have been working to get all the available vaccines administered as quickly as possible, but it will take time to vaccinate everyone who is part of a group targeted for vaccination as it can take months to get through each priority group. 

“The COVID-19 vaccine campaign is complex,” said Jesse Habourn, public health emergency management coordinator, Fairfax County Health Department. “The vaccine requires unique storage, specific handling, special training for vaccinators, and vaccination spaces and appointments that keep people socially distanced and safe. Vaccine supply fluctuates week to week from the federal level to the states and down to the locals, which adds an additional layer of complexity. And, all vaccination planning is doubled because each person requires two doses.” 

Vaccination is a community-wide effort. Hundreds of health care volunteers and workers have been specially trained and mobilized to assist with the process. Community partners such as Inova and Reston Hospitals are contributing to efforts to get people vaccinated.  

“Vaccinating our community is something we can do to get our lives back to normal,” said Dorothy Randazzo, a public health nurse who has served in many roles during the pandemic to help people in Fairfax. “My Health Department colleagues are working tirelessly toward that goal.” 

Quick Facts for Older Adults about COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments 
  • Vaccine eligibility is occurring in phases per the CDC and Virginia Department of Health. For more information about vaccine rollout in Fairfax, click here.  
  • As more vaccine becomes available, there will be more options where to access it. In the future, you will likely be able to access vaccine via your doctor, a health clinic or pharmacy. 
  • It takes two doses. Follow the directions of your vaccine provider to schedule your second dose. 
  • One caregiver can attend a vaccine appointment with their loved one.  
  • Vaccine-eligible people can register for appointments online, after your registration is accepted, a scheduling link will be sent to you as vaccine becomes available. OR over the phone:703-324-7404 to register for a vaccine via phone. (no need to do both). 

Vaccine Appointment Tips 
  • Wear a mask to the appointment. 
  • Take a picture of your vaccination card. That way you won’t have to worry about misplacing it. 
  • Download and use v-Safe, an app that helps you report any reactions you are having to the vaccine. Learn more here
 
Vaccine and People with Disabilities 
Fairfax follows guidance from the Virginia Department of Health regarding who can be scheduled to receive the vaccine during each phase. There is no category specifically for people with disabilities. Recently Virginia’s Governor Northam included “People Ages 16-64 with High-Risk Medical Conditions or Disability that Increases their Risk of Severe Illness from COVID-19,” into Phase 1b to provide vaccine access for this specific group. It is likely that people with disabilities will fall under various subgroups.  

Fairfax County will ensure that the vaccine is accessible to everyone when it is their turn. If you need any accommodations to receive your vaccine you can notify your vaccine provider when you make your appointment.  

Health and Safety Measures 
Even after you are vaccinated, you must continue to follow health and safety protocol. The CDC has given clear direction that individuals should still wear masks, stating “it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like wearing masks, washing hands often, and social distancing.” Please continue to practice health and safety measures: 
  • Wash your hands.
  • Wear face coverings.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Maintain 6 feet social distance.
  • Stay home when sick
What You Need to Know if You Have Registered to Get a Vaccine Appointment
As of January 20th, there were approximately 115,000 people who have registered to get a vaccine appointment. Unfortunately, vaccine supply remains very limited. This is going to be a long process and we ask for your patience.

Waiting for First Dose Appointments
If you have registered to get vaccinated and already have an appointment scheduled to receive your first dose, please keep your appointment. We have adequate vaccine supply for appointments that have already been scheduled.

If you have already registered to get vaccinated but have not received an appointment, please note the following:
  • First of all, do not worry. Vaccinating you is our priority and we will do so based on scheduling and supply availability.
  • We will email you to schedule an appointment when we have vaccine available to do so. We are releasing these appointments as supply becomes available.
  • You will remain registered for your vaccination and do not need to re-submit your information.
  • Even though more groups are becoming eligible for vaccination, all appointments are being scheduled in the order that they are received. This means that adults age 75 and older who have already registered will have priority over those who register in the future.
  • The Health Department will send you periodic updates while you are on the waitlist about your status.

Second Dose Process
While vaccine supply continues to remain very limited, we expect to receive enough doses each week to provide second doses to people who have already received their first dose. Individuals who received their first dose from the Health Department so far have received the Moderna vaccine. It is recommended that the same vaccine is given at least 28 days after the first dose.

Soon, the Health Department will begin offering Pfizer vaccine, which requires that the second dose be given at least 21 days after the first dose. Other vaccine products may be used in the future, so it is important that you refer to your “CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” when making a second dose appointment to match the manufacturer of your first dose.

The Health Department will send you an invitation to schedule your second dose during the most appropriate window based on your first dose date. You do not need to contact the Health Department to schedule your second dose and you do not need to complete the registration form again.

Individuals who received vaccine from Inova or Reston hospitals should reach out to their vaccinator for information on second dose scheduling.
COVID-19 Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions
The Fairfax County Health Department has received many COVID-19 vaccine-related inquiries, so below are a few of the most frequently asked questions that have been posed by residents over the past few days.

For background, Fairfax County follows vaccine rollout guidance from the Virginia Department of Health. The county is now accepting registrations to get vaccination appointments from health care workers, individuals age 65 and older, and people age 16-64 with a high-risk medical condition or disability that increases their risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
How long will it take for me to get a vaccine appointment scheduled if I completed the online form?
  • As of January 20, there are approximately 115,000 people who have registered to get a vaccine appointment. 
  • Vaccine supply remains very limited so we ask for your patience as it will take time for people near the end of this waitlist to get an appointment time. 
  • There are also plans to increase options for vaccine through pharmacies and health care provider offices over time. 
  • For more information on what you need to know once you have registered and waiting to schedule your appointment, click here.

I got a message from the County that my appointment has been canceled because there is not enough vaccine. Is this true and when can I get vaccinated?
  • Fairfax County has not sent out any cancellation notices to people who have scheduled appointments. If you registered to get vaccinated and have an appointment scheduled to receive your first dose, please keep your appointment.
  • A communication went out on Jan. 15 to everyone who registered for the vaccine indicating that due to limited vaccine availability, it may take some time to get an appointment and to please be patient. This message was intended for those people who DID NOT have an appointment scheduled. 

I registered, but did not receive a confirmation email, text or voicemail. How do I know if my registration went through?
  • Those who registered for vaccine before Jan. 18 should have received an email notification to confirm registration. If you have not seen it, please check your spam folder. 
  • If you registered on Jan. 18 or later, you will receive confirmation based on the contact information you provide on the questionnaire. The Health Department will later use your contact information to schedule your appointment when more vaccine becomes available.
  • If you do not receive any communication within 24 hours of filling out the questionnaire, you will soon be able to contact our call center to confirm you are registered and confirm your contact information.

Do I need to get my second dose exactly 28 days after the first dose?
  • The recommended interval between Moderna vaccine doses is 28 days and between the Pfizer vaccine doses is 21 days. The same vaccine must be given for both.
  • This is recommended, but if required, longer intervals are acceptable and second doses given within 4 days before the recommended interval also are considered valid, but not preferred.
  • If you received your first dose from the Fairfax County Health Department, you will receive an email invitation with a link to schedule your second dose during an appropriate window based on the date you received your first dose. You can expect this notification at least 4 to 7 days before the dose is due.
  • You do not need to contact the Health Department to schedule your second dose and you do not need to complete the registration form again.

I got a message from the County about vaccine supply while I’m on the waitlist and it included a link that said “click here to confirm receipt of this text/email.” If I didn’t click that, did I lose my place in line? Do I need to re-register?
  • If you did not click that link or if you clicked it later and got an error message, that is ok and you don’t need to do anything else. 
  • You are still registered in our system and on the waitlist in the same order in which you were originally entered. That confirmation system is optional.

I filled out a “When Can I Get Vaccinated” form on the VDH website? Does this mean I’m registered in the Fairfax County system to get an appointment? 
  • No, you still need to register to get an appointment with Fairfax County by completing our online form here. The form available on the Virginia Department of Health’s website allows residents to see which phase people fall in to. 
  • The information provided in this form will be used to determine COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and to plan vaccine administration.

For the latest on the vaccine, information can be found on the websites of the Center for Disease Control, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Fairfax County Health Department. An FAQ for the public can be found here, and an FAQ for healthcare providers can be found here.
Delegate Sullivan COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall Saturday
Delegate Rip Sullivan and several of his colleagues are hosting a town hall with two leading experts on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Arlington, Fairfax, and across Virginia:
  • Dr. Danny Avula, Vaccine Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health
  • Dr. Reuben Varghese, Public Health Director, Arlington County
Event Details
Saturday, January 23 at 3:00 p.m.
 
This will be a great opportunity to ask questions about the coming vaccine distribution process, and learn more about when you are likely to be able to get vaccinated. 

To RSVP for this event click here. To submit questions for this event click here.
Tips to make the air in your home safer during
COVID-19
First Annual Smart City Challenge
Fairfax County is partnering with Smart City Works, Refraction, Girls in Tech DC, The Universities at Shady Grove, and Virginia Tech to host the first annual Smart City Challenge.  

The Smart City Challenge is an innovation competition, in which teams create high-impact solutions to address the toughest smart city challenges in sectors including housing, transportation, health, broadband, energy, education, water, infrastructure, and public safety. The goal of the Challenge is to advance equitable and inclusive opportunities for all people to thrive in the greater Washington, D.C. region. The Challenge, which will run from January 23 to February 18, also will host important discussions on smart city issues with key business, government and nonprofit leaders throughout the month.

To learn more about the Challenge and to register, click here.
Stuff the Bus January 30 & February 6
Stuff the Bus began in 2011 in response to a critical need to help restock the shelves of local food pantries after the holidays. Now in its 10th year, Stuff the Bus is working to meet the increased demand for food due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Fastran, CUE or school buses will be parked at locations throughout Fairfax County to collect nonperishable food donations for area food pantries. Buses will be located in less-frequented lots – including Board of Supervisors’ offices, schools, libraries and the Pennino building – to allow donors to comply with social distancing recommendations. 

Saturday, January 30 & February 6
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
McLean Government Center
1437 Balls Hill Road
McLean, VA 22101
Great Falls Library
9830 Georgetown Pike
Great Falls, VA 22066
For the full list of the 21 locations and more information on Stuff the Bus, click here. See the nonprofits’ most requested food items here
Stay Informed about COVID-19
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: