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Critter Corner: How Can a Senior Get a COVID Vaccine in Virginia, DC, and Maryland?

Dear Magic,

My husband, Ricky, is 70 and I am 67. We would like to get coronavirus vaccines, but don’t know how and where. Do you have any information about doing so in the DC area? Thanks for your help!

Vax Scene

Dear Vax,

Coronavirus vaccines are now available, and if you are over 65, you can get one. These are the details for the DC Metro area:

Virginia

Residents age 65 and older can schedule to receive a vaccine, Gov. Ralph Northam announced at a news conference yesterday, January 14. Officials expanded state vaccination Phase 1b, which previously included residents age 75 and older. Also new: Anyone who has a chronic health condition is eligible. Your local health department should begin registering individuals in these new groups on Monday, January 18.  

So far, Virginia has distributed about 950,000 vaccine shots but will need about 17 million doses in order to give each person the two shots they need. This puts Virginia at 43rd among all states and D.C. for vaccinations per capita, with an average of just 2,552 residents per 100,000 residents having received a vaccine. The state is aiming to vaccinate 50,000 people a day and has plans to set up fixed vaccination centers that will be staffed by the National Guard and contracted vaccinators.

For more details about the coronavirus vaccine in Virginia, click here.

Maryland

Residents age 75 and older can get vaccinated as of Monday, January 18, as part of Phase 1B of the Maryland’s vaccination plan. Teachers and school staff, child care providers, residents of assisted living facilities, those in group homes and other congregate living facilities, as well as high-risk inmates and jail detainees also will become eligible Monday to receive either of the two currently approved vaccines. The state will open up the eligibility further one week later, on Jan. 25, to Phase 1C: Residents age 65 to 74, more public safety and health workers, and essential workers in grocery stores, food production, labs, manufacturing, public transit and the postal service.

Few details were offered on the logistics of signing up for vaccine appointments, though Governor Hogan said Maryland residents can now enter their information into covidvax.maryland.gov for details on vaccine clinics. Information eventually will be available through local health departments as well.

DC

At a press conference on January 11, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC residents aged 65 and older are now able to make an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Residents will be able to schedule a vaccination through the call center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. After receiving the first dose of the vaccine, seniors should expect a vaccination card or printout, which would list the details of the vaccine, as well as a return date for their second shot. Residents can make these appointments through the vaccinate.dc.gov portal or by calling the District’s coronavirus call center at 1-855-363-0333.

Hope this is helpful and that you stay well and healthy!

Magic

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About Renee Eder

Renee Eder is the Director of Public Relations for the Farr Law Firm, and gives the voice to the Critters of Critter Corner. Renee’s poodle, Penny, is an official comfort dog who she and her children bring to visit with seniors who are in the early stages of dementia at a local senior home once a month.

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