Virginia will send an additional 8,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to district hospitals early next week
Virginia will send 8,000 more Covid-19 vaccines to district hospitals early next week, DC Health Director Dr Lacondra Nesbitt told a news conference Monday – more than the 6,825 vaccines the federal government has allocated for the nation’s capital.
Additional levels include North Virginia residents working at the forefront of fighting the epidemic in DC
The collaboration took place over the weekend, Nesbit said, and more details are being finalized.
After front line workers are vaccinated, DC can focus on long-term care facilities.
“Individuals in high-risk groups can be vaccinated before they move to the second and third stages where the general population is,” Nesbit said.
He warned that the city could not provide a timeline “on what date, what weeks, whether we will come to the general public in the third phase or other risk groups in the second phase because we do not know when the vaccine will be available. ”
Nesbit said the shipment from Virginia allows DC and its neighboring state to “implement a long-term maintenance consortium.”
He added that the district is in discussions with Maryland for additional levels.
It will have the ability to detect the number of vaccine levels coming into the city of DC and monitor those who have been vaccinated. In addition, they can be reminded of when their first and second dose should be given.
Those numbers will be reported.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says the Pfizer vaccine available to the city is 95% effective with two doses. He warned that there were some side effects of the vaccine, but they were “normal”.
“Some people are expected to have immunity to get vaccinated for sore hands or fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and colds. It is normal and expected and rotates as soon as the vaccine is given, ”Bowser said.
“So we want everyone to find out the facts and get the facts so that you can get any questions you have answered with your health care provider.”
Currently, the vaccine is safe for people 16 and older. It is not known when the pediatric vaccine will be considered safe.
“We do not have significant data on the infant population because it’s related to safety and efficacy at this stage, which can indicate when those people will start vaccinating,” Nesbit said.
Among the first to be vaccinated in DC were five members of the city’s fire and EMS department – including its chairman, John Donnelly. Vaccinations are expected to take place this week.
D.C. Fire and EMS lieutenant Gaesia Jackson said she initially had a lot of reluctance when she was vaccinated.
“I’m definitely one of those people who opposed it, against it, I’m not going to do it,” Jackson said. “But as you go through life, certain circumstances in your life will change you.”
“I’m trying to send a message to black and brown people like me,” he said. “This is my race dying at a high rate.”
Jackson’s friend has been a nurse since he was 10, he said. She also worries about passing on an illness with her father, as he often works during demonstrations in DC.
“So again, I am that person. I can certainly admit that I am the person against it. I’m not going to do that. “Let’s wait a year and see what happens,” Jackson said.
“I can not do it anymore. I can not, I can not. So I have to give up my hope, I hope I will be fine. That’s my hope. That’s what I’m going to do. Again, my race is leaving here at a dangerous rate.”
Lieutenant Joseph Papariello also stressed the importance of vaccination.
“Our biggest fear as providers is to deliver it to our patients and bring it home to our families, which is the first step around that corner and preventing them from happening,” said Lt. Joseph Papariello.
Acting fire chief Donnelly said Monday that he learned last week that his department would be the first to be vaccinated as the first responders. Members were surveyed for their participation levels for the vaccine, which he describes as “optional but highly motivating.”
“The first members we get involved with are COVID members … We have seen widespread COVID with more than 250 cases in the fire department,” he said.
Donnelly plans to vaccinate 140 people a day until all vaccination quotas are exhausted or there are no other members to vaccinate.
DC corona virus numbers
The district reported 164 new corona virus cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 25,038.
An additional death was reported. To date, 716 DC residents have died from the virus.
Monitor district data online.
Below are case maps of ward and neighborhood pages.
Megan Cloherty of the WTOP contributed to this report.