RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – 8News has learned that some Richmond and Henrico residents eligible for Phase 1c COVID-19 vaccine are already able to schedule an appointment to be admitted.
Some can even book an appointment at the Virginia State University CVC location in Chesterfield.
Related coverage: Richmond-Henrico and Chesterfield Health Districts are still in vaccination phase 1b while others are switching to 1c
Virginia Vaccination Coordinator Dr. Danny Avula says this is due to the remaining dates available.
Avula says after inviting all of Phase 1b from Chesterfield and the Crater Health Districts to the VSU site, there were still many dates available.
Health officials can then move to their next tier of eligible pre-registered residents, such as those who are in phase 1c in Chesterfield and Crater.
Avula explains why some Richmond and Henrico residents are able to book appointments in Chesterfield, possibly related to their employment.
Some may qualify as essential workers in Chesterfield or Crater, but happen to live outside of the health districts. He explains that if your job qualifies you, it has to do with your job.
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He adds that an older portion of the data has not been geocoded, which means that the search will get pre-registered people by zip code and some neighbors may have received the invitation.
Neither Chesterfield nor Richmond and Henrico Health Districts have announced when they will officially enter Phase 1c, but both believe their goal is to have a vaccine for every adult by May 1, a goal set by President Joe Biden was established.