The local health districts of
the Richmond Metropolitan Area (Chesterfield, Chickahominy, Henrico, andRichmond) will begin expanding their COVID-19 vaccination campaigns to include
some Phase 1b frontline essential workers on Monday, January 18. Specifically,workers in the first three categories of Phase 1b, will now be
eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines will be administered through acombination of regional mass vaccination events, as well as partnerships with
various providers. Vaccination of Phase 1a populations willcontinue as the region opens up to Phase 1b. 

“We know that the burden of
this disease and the underlying social vulnerabilities that put these essentialworkers at risk do not end at the boundaries of our city and counties,” said
Dr. Melissa Viray, Acting Director for Richmond and Henrico Health Districts.“It makes the most sense to coordinate our vaccination efforts and make sure
all of our communities have access to the best tool we have to end thepandemic.” 

The first three categories of
Phase 1b frontline essential workers include: 

1) Police, Fire, and Hazmat 

2) Corrections and homelessshelter workers 

3) Childcare/PreK-12
Teachers/Staff 

Individuals in these categorieswill start to have the opportunity to receive their first dose of COVID-19
vaccine at one of three large-scale regional vaccination clinics beginning nextweek. 

“Many school teachers and staff
in our jurisdictions have courageously shown up for in-person instructionthroughout this pandemic in order to serve their students’ needs and to provide
the best education possible. This vaccine offers a shield of protection and abeacon of hope for this group of essential workers,” says Dr. Tom Franck,
Director of Chickahominy Health District. 

Next week’s COVID-19vaccination events are taking place in addition to each local health districts’
ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts for qualified individuals. Metro areadistricts are exploring ways to move deeper into the 1b vaccine eligible group
as additional resources become available to distribute vaccine more broadly. 

This step is only the beginningof the Phase 1b vaccination process; other populations that qualify for
vaccines in Phase 1b will be offered COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks.Health districts will continue to prioritize future phases of vaccination using
VDH guidelines, with an emphasis on those who cannot perform their workremotely and have increased exposure risk interfacing with the public or in
close proximity to coworkers. 

In Hanover, please take thissimple online eligibility tool or call the VDH COVID Hotline: 1-877-ASK-VDH3. The Chickahominy Health District email is [email protected], but
due to the high volume of calls and messages, their ability to reply quicklywill vary.