HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - The Western Tidewater Health District announced Wednesday that it will move into Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccinations next week.
Based on the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Phase 1B includes frontline essential workers, people 65 years of age and older, and people between the ages of 18 and 64 who have a high-risk medical condition. A full breakdown of Phase 1B can be found here.
“We are excited to move through the phases of our vaccination plan at a feverish pace” said Dr. Lauren James, interim director of the Western Tidewater Health District. James continued “Our staff has done an exceptional job planning for this vaccine rollout and strives to continue to provide exceptional service to the localities we serve just as we have done through the entire pandemic.”
Last week, only one city in Hampton Roads moved into Phase 1B while the rest of the Commonwealth moved ahead. Employees who work for Chesapeake Public Schools were told they could start receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on January 13.
Organizations that fall into the categories outlined in Phase 1B are asked to email District Emergency Manager Will Drewery at will.drewery@vdh.virginia.gov to get access to the online scheduling portal.
People 65 and older who are unable to receive the vaccine through their healthcare provider or a pharmacy are asked to call one of the following numbers to make an appointment:
- Suffolk (757) 514-4781
- Isle of Wight (757) 279-3070
- Franklin (757) 562-6109
- Southampton (757) 653-3040
On February 1, Isle of Wight County officials said due to a limited number of vaccines that were given to the Western Tidewater Health District this week, all appointments for first doses of the vaccine that were scheduled at the Workforce Development Center in Franklin and the Smithfield Center in Smithfield have been canceled for that week. They say all second dose appointments scheduled for these locations will still be honored as second doses of the vaccine comes from a separate allocation.
Health officials say the vaccine is expected to be in very high demand, so the district is asking for the public’s patience as they navigate through the various phases of vaccine deployment. As the district moves into future phases of vaccine deployment, more information will be made publicly available.
