Virginia Beach Already Moving into Phase 2: Appointments Available This Week

The time has come: anyone 16 and older who lives or works in Virginia Beach is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This transition to Phase 2 comes on the heels of the move to 1C last week and is well ahead of the April 18 deadline Governor Northam set.

"We actually have appointment slots available for Phase 2 qualified individuals starting this week. People who pre-register today may receive invitations to schedule appointments within a few hours," said Robert Engle, emergency planner with the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health (VBDPH). "We will continue to prioritize those eligible in Phase 1 as we move into Phase 2, and continue the focus on equity and reaching our vulnerable populations," he said. Those efforts include targeted advertising in multiple languages, working with community partners to schedule vaccination clinics, and opening large, state-run Community Vaccination Centers in targeted areas.

"This is a major milestone for our community," said Mayor Robert M. "Bobby" Dyer. "It's a testament to the incredible partnership between the City and VBDPH, and especially to the dedication of the scores of volunteers who have been showing up day after day to get shots in arms. We could not have gotten to this day so soon without our incredible volunteers or without the City redeploying staff to make sure everything was covered."

Everyone who lives or works in Virginia Beach should pre-register so they can be notified when they are eligible for vaccination and an appointment is available. Pre-registration may be completed by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish and more than 100 other languages. Videoconferencing in American Sign Language is also available viavaccinate.virginia.gov.

Virginia Beach residents and workers who have received an invitation to schedule an appointment in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) and have had difficulty finding an available timeslot should select 23451 as the zip code and "limited clinic" as the clinic type. Keep checking VAMS as new clinic appointment slots are continually being added. If you are having trouble finding your invitation email, search "CDC" in your inbox. Residents or workers having problems scheduling an appointment should email the Health Department at VaccinateVB@vdh.virginia.gov.

# # #