Delegate Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) announced on Thursday that in partnership with The Virginia Department of Health, Sports Backers, and the City of Petersburg, she was able to coordinate an effort to deliver additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Crater Health District.
Her staff says that after collaborative and rigorous discussions with officials from the Department of Health and the Crater Health District, along with leaders from Petersburg, Hopewell, Dinwiddie, and Prince George about the large scale need facing these communities, 2,000 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine doses were secured for the people in those localities.
Aird’s office says that the Crater Health District has recently been ranked as having some of the lowest vaccine distribution numbers, despite also having some of the lowest health indicators in the Commonwealth.
“This is a race against time,” Delegate Aird said, “and my office is laser-focused on solution-driven plans like this event to ramp up vaccine distribution with a focus on vulnerable communities.” Adding, “We cannot and we will not leave these communities behind.”
The allocation of doses will be based on both need and population: 500 doses are reserved for residents from Dinwiddie County, 500 for Prince George, 600 for the City of Petersburg, and 400 for Hopewell. Each locality will work off of a waitlist that has been growing since mid-January and prioritize residents who are 65 years or older.
The event will be held on Friday, February 19th at Petersburg High School 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents 65 and older will be prioritized to ensure the limited reserves have the largest possible impact on those most at risk. The event will be by appointment only and those who are eligible will be contacted and offered appointments by the Department of Health.
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