Board of Supervisors - Chairman

To the Fairfax County Community,

As you may know, starting Sunday, April 18, all individuals in the Fairfax Health District who are 16 or older will be eligible to directly schedule a vaccine appointment through VaccineFinder.org as Fairfax County moves into Phase 2 with the rest of Virginia. This is a significant change in how to make a vaccine appointment and I urge you to read the following information carefully.

With this new system, Fairfax County will no longer be the primary registration point for the COVID-19 vaccine.

VaccineFinder displays available appointments from approved vaccine providers across the County, including the Health Department, pharmacies, hospitals, and some private practices. However, clinics managed by the Health Department and some of its partners may not be listed on that site until late April or early May due to available vaccine supply and the need to finish vaccinating those on our Phase 1 waitlist. Everyone who is on our waitlist before it closes at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, will be contacted to schedule an appointment within approximately one week of Sunday. All Phase 2 residents interested in obtaining a vaccine should utilize VaccineFinder.

Residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment on VaccineFinder with any provider based on the day, time, and location that is most convenient for them. Be aware that each provider may have different processes to sign up to get an appointment. If you are on our current waitlist but get vaccinated by another provider, please remove yourself from our waitlist.

Our current registration system was necessary in Phase 1 to accommodate the state mandated prioritization of residents. In Phase 2, we now have a larger pool of community vaccination sites that allows us to shift to this new process. This will allow greater flexibility and choice of where residents receive their vaccine.

For Those in Phase 1

As mentioned above, everyone who is on our waitlist before it closes at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, will be contacted to schedule an appointment within approximately one week. You will not lose your place in the queue.

That said, you should also feel free to check VaccineFinder should an appointment be available outside of the Health Department sooner.

If you are considered Phase 1 and wish to register after April 18, you may do so through the state registration system. The Fairfax preregistration will be retired. Following April 18, individuals in the Phase 1 group can choose to schedule appointments on VaccineFinder or can register at Vaccinate Virginia if no appointments are available. For assistance, call the State’s call center at 877-829-4682 or the Fairfax County call center at 703-324-7404.

Vaccine Supply

As of April 14, VDH data shows that the Fairfax Health District has fully vaccinated over 239,000 residents, which represents 20.8% percent of our population. While vaccine supply in Phase 1 has been a challenge, particularly for larger jurisdictions, Fairfax continues to outpace its Northern Virginia counterparts in the percentage of population fully vaccinated (Alexandria —19.7, Arlington —19.1, Loudoun —18.8, and Prince William — 15.9). In addition, approximately 36.2% of the Fairfax population has received at least one dose.

As the transition to Phase 2 occurs, our demand for vaccine still surpasses supply. For the next few weeks for example, we only expect deliveries to total around 30,000 doses per week. It is anticipated that vaccine supplies will begin to increase throughout the spring and summer.

The high demand for vaccination in Fairfax County combined with the available vaccine supply will continue to be a challenge, especially in the initial weeks of Phase 2. With patience and care, we will get everyone vaccinated.

Using Vaccine Finder

1. To find available appointments visit VaccineFinder.org.
2. Enter your zip code and select a search radius.
3. Once appointments are available for clinics managed by the Fairfax County Health Department in a few weeks, those clinics will also be listed on the map alongside other community providers and pharmacies.
4. VaccineFinder is not currently available in other languages, but users can change their web browser settings to their desired language.
   1. If you need assistance in another language or have difficulty using the online system, call the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-324-7404.

To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, the CDC, the FDA, and VDH recommended pausing all Johnson & Johnson vaccinations because of the occurrence of a potentially rare side effect. As a result, Fairfax County will not be administering J&J vaccines until further notice.

While this is concerning for nationwide vaccination efforts, as I know many states and localities were dependent on vaccine, this will not impact Fairfax County vaccine appointments. This is because we were already experiencing a shortage of J&J vaccine doses due in part to a nationwide shortage. No new shipments of this particular vaccine were scheduled for the next few weeks.

If you have received the J&J vaccine and have developed a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of vaccination, you should contact your healthcare provider.

In addition, today was the first of three days of public hearings on the FY2022 budget (see the below timeline). You still have time to review the budget and testify in front of the Board. Learn how to testify here.

The agenda for today's Board meeting is available for your review here.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, individuals who live or work in the Fairfax Health District that fall into the following categories are now eligible to register to get a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Energy
• Water, Wastewater, Waste Removal
• Housing and Construction
• Food Service
• Transportation and Logistics
• Institutions of Higher Education Faculty/Staff

For details on who is included in these categories, more can be found here and here. As always, you must register here.

As we continue to receive more vaccine doses, we'll continue to get shots in arms quickly and showcase to the state our eagerness to advance. We expect to meet the Virginia Department of Health's April 18 deadline to begin Phase 2 of vaccinations.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, those in the remainder of Phase 1B became eligible to register for vaccination. Those groups are:

• Officials needed to maintain continuity of government
• Clergy and faith leaders
• Janitorial and cleaning staff

For details on who is included in these categories, more can be found here and here. As always, you must register here.

As we continue to receive more vaccine doses, we'll continue to get shots in arms quickly and showcase to the state our eagerness to advance. We expect the Virginia Department of Health to move us into Phase 1C by mid-April and into Phase 2 by May 1.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

I wanted to provide a quick update on our vaccine progress. First, Inova's new mass vaccine site in the City of Alexandria (pictured below) will begin taking patients on March 29 and are beginning to schedule time slots. While the center is technically in the City of Alexandria, it is serving Fairfax County residents and will be particularly helpful to those in South County. We are always working on more locations and hope to announce more soon. Again, Fairfax County residents must register through the County's vaccination webpage here. This is an exciting update since at max capacity this site can vaccinate close to 12,000 people a day. This site is incredibly important as we continue our work to get shots in arms as quickly as possible.

In addition, to date the Fairfax Health District has administered over 325,000 doses. I want to assure you we have put every resource into our vaccine operation. (We are even looking to hire more vaccinators, learn more here). It is no small task to vaccinate 1.2 million people but our team is working day and night to maximize the number of vaccines appointments offered each week. And while we have seen significant increases in supply, they do not yet meet the demand of our population. My regional colleagues and I wrote a letter to the Governor and had a call with his vaccination team late last week to discuss this issue. I can assure you it is our priority to get more vaccine doses to our health district and northern Virginia.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

At today's Board meeting, I moved and had the unanimous support to approve a resolution condemning anti-Asian racism and violence. Close to 20% of Fairfax County’s population is of Asian or Pacific Island descent, with Korean and Vietnamese being two of the five most spoken languages spoken within our community. You can hear the resolution in the video below.

I asked that our Board pass this motion today because I want our entire community to know that in Fairfax County, we hear your concerns and anxieties and believe that any acts of racism against any community, including our Asian American community are unacceptable. No matter where you are from, you are welcome in Fairfax. Moreover, it is necessary to say, though unfortunate that I must, that Asians are not more likely to have or spread COVID-19.

Finally, I want to remind you that should you see a crime of any sort, including racially motivated, call the police at 911 if it is an emergency, or our non-emergency line 703-691-2131. As a further reminder, we do not ask for immigration status when you call.

See highlights of today's Board meeting below and the full agenda is available for your review here.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

A few exciting news items to share:

This morning we have expanded eligibility to the following groups of essential workers within 1B:

• Food and agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Grocery store workers

If you live or work in Fairfax County and meet the criteria, please register with the Fairfax County Health Department here. The criteria is illustrated in the chart below and detailed here. Other eligible groups include those over 65, those 16-64 with a high risk medical condition, and frontline workers.

You may be aware of VDH's announcement that there are a few health districts that will begin the transition to Phase 1C this week. While we are not quite there yet, we do expect to make that transition soon, perhaps by mid-April, when all jurisdictions are expected to have moved into Phase 1C. Phase 2 is expected to begin by May 1, per the President's deadline.

In addition, residents may register to be vaccinated using a new Spanish form that's now available here. (Our English form is here.)

Personas en el Condado de Fairfax ahora pueden registrarse para una vacuna COVID-19 (cuando sea elegible) usando un nuevo formulario en español que ya está disponible. El formulario se puede cambiar entre inglés y español seleccionando el idioma en la parte superior derecha de la pantalla. Si las personas no pueden registrarse en línea, se les pide que llamen al 703-324-7404 para brindarles asistencia en español (a igual que en otros idiomas).

Finally, this week we received over 43,000 vaccine doses! This is a significant jump from last week's 31,000 doses and welcome news as we work to get shots in arms quickly and efficiently.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

It's been a year since our first COVID case in Fairfax County and a year since COVID shut us down, shut Virginia down, and shut the world down. A lot has changed since then. Over 1,000 Fairfax County residents have passed from COVID. I'm sure many of you have lost family and loved ones outside of the County as well. Aside from that, the stress and isolation that has come with this disease has been incredibly difficult. This anniversary is truly a solemn one.

The path forward isn't simple. We still see about 140 new cases a day and I urge you to continue to wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands. What's next won't be easy, but there is a way forward.

Vaccine supply is beginning to increase and about 16% of our County population is now vaccinated. Just this week our Health Department received 31,000 doses of vaccine, up from 13,500 doses just a few weeks ago. I was reminded when I visited one of our vaccine sites recently how sophisticated our operation is. Please, if you are eligible and haven't already, register to be vaccinated here.

There is also federal help on the way. The American Rescue Plan, that was signed into law by President Biden yesterday will provide over $200 million to Fairfax County so we can continue our efforts to lift up those in need. I was proud to be able to advocate for this bill on the County's behalf.

Despite the hardship of the last year, our County came together. I'm proud of our County staff who have worked hard to support the community and, despite the risk for many, continued to show up to work every day. Whether that was on the frontlines of the pandemic, responding to our hundreds of calls for food and rental assistance each day, or coordinating projects like our RISE grant program for small businesses, their work is crucial.

I want to thank you, too, for stepping up. Whether that was getting groceries for a neighbor, sewing masks for our most vulnerable populations, or volunteering through a County program, your commitment is a constant inspiration for me as I serve the residents of Fairfax County.

So while things still feel difficult, we are in a much better place than one year ago. Better days are ahead.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, the Board met with a full agenda. We covered the County Executive's FY22 budget proposal and heard the recommendations from my Task Force on Equity and Opportunity. I also want to share some good news on the vaccine front - I am pleased to announce that Giant Pharmacy has agreed to partner formally with the Fairfax Health Department. They will be vaccinating people registered in our system, using our scheduler starting tomorrow.

Vaccinations will begin with four locations, with more locations to be announced later this week. These stores will serve as alternatives to County facility sites. Residents in our existing queue who are being offered an appointment by the County when their turn comes up, will have the option of choosing which Giant location. Below are the addresses of the stores that will come on line. Again, Giant will be working off the County's registration list, please do not show up at these locations without an appointment and we hope to soon add more locations.

• 7501 Huntsman Boulevard, Springfield, VA
• 6364A Springfield Plaza, Springfield, VA
• 5740 Union Mill Road, Clifton, VA
• 5870 Kingstowne Boulevard, Alexandria, VA

This partnership will improve access for our residents and help expedite our vaccination process. There is still a nationwide shortage of vaccine that has slowed our ability to vaccinate. That said, I am hopeful supply is starting to pick up (we got 16,000 vaccine doses this week, up from 13,500). We need your patience, we are getting through the queue as fast as possible.

The agenda for today's Board meeting is available for your review here.

For COVID-19 resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.

To the Fairfax County Community,

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for tomorrow. The forecast predicts a messy mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice and travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.

As a result of the weather, COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 18) at the Fairfax County Government Center and the four Health Department District office sites are cancelled. People who have appointments will receive an email informing them of the cancellation. The cancellation notice will contain a link to reschedule your appointment for the upcoming week. Please note that appointment locations may be at a different site than you were originally scheduled for. No changes have been made to Friday appointments at this time. Read more here.

Finally, as you may be aware, the Fairfax Health District is not yet participating in the statewide registration system. Ideally, this was to cut down confusion. Despite this, the Virginia Department of Health has sent notifications to Fairfax residents about registration. This was a mass email that VDH has sent based off of one of their data systems and should be disregarded. Please make sure you are registered in the Fairfax system here and if you are not you may register here (or call the vaccine hotline at 703-324-7404).

Key information and contacts to help you before, during, and after the potential winter storm are below.