Dear Neighbors –
This week, our nation paid tribute to the 500,000 American lives lost due to COVID-19 and honored the many loved ones they left behind. Here in the District, we honor the 1,000 lives lost by continuing to ramp up our efforts to ensure that we can minimize the impacts of this virus and keep all District residents, workers, and visitors safe.
Last week, Mayor Bowser announced the launch of the coronavirus vaccination dashboard. Each week, the dashboard will be updated with information regarding the number of residents vaccinated, the District’s vaccine supply, and related statistics. To access the dashboard, visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/data/vaccination.
In this weekly update, you will find information on the following topics:
- The District Entering Phase 1C Tier 1
- Additional Populations Now Eligible for an Appointment
- How to Obtain an Appointment
- Transportation Assistance to Vaccination Sites
- Information on Vaccination Outreach Efforts
Thank you for staying engaged, and please remember to reach out to our office if you need assistance.
Yours in Service,
Brooke
Who is Eligible for an Appointment
This week, District residents between the ages of 16-64 who have a qualifying medical condition (as listed below) will be eligible to book vaccination appointments.
Beginning the week of March 1, these individuals can receive the vaccination. At this time, the District is entering Phase 1C Tier 1.
On Friday, February 26, at 9:00 a.m., approximately 4,350 vaccination appointments will be made available to District residents living in all zip codes and who are 65 years old or older, have a qualifying medical condition, and/or are a member of an eligible workforce.
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 25, at 9:00 a.m., approximately 4,350 vaccination appointments will be made available to District residents living in priority zip codes who are 65 years or older, have a qualifying medical condition, and/or are a member of an eligible workforce.
According to the Executive Office of the Mayor, “priority zip codes include areas of the city where residents are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including the number of cases and mortality rate. This week, Wards 5, 7, and 8 were prioritized because they have the lowest percentages of residents who are 65 and older who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.” At this time, the priority zip codes for Thursday morning appointments that are focused in Wards 5, 7, and 8 include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593.
Eligible Work Force Members Include:
- Individuals who work in health care settings;
- Members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department;
- Residents of long-term and intermediate care facilities and residents of community residential facilities/group homes;
- DC residents who are 65 years old and older;
- Individuals experiencing homelessness;
- Members of the Metropolitan Police Department;
- Personnel responsible for Continuity of District Government;
- Teachers and staff who are, or will be, working in person at a traditional or public charter school;
- Licensed Child Care Providers;
- Teachers and Staff of Independent Schools in DC;
- Department of Corrections Employees;
- Grocery Store Workers;
- Health and Human Services and Social Services Outreach Workers; and
- Manufacturing and Food Packaging Workers.
Qualifying medical conditions include: Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and other Chronic Lung Disease; Bone Marrow and Solid Organ Transplantation; Cancer; Cerebrovascular Disease; Chronic Kidney Disease; Congenital Heart Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Heart Conditions, such as Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, or Cardiomyopathies; HIV; Hypertension; Immunocompromised State; Inherited Metabolic Disorders; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Liver Disease; Neurologic Conditions; Obesity, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; Pregnancy; Severe Genetic Disorders; Sickle Cell Disease; and Thalassemia.
Residents who are unsure whether they qualify for the vaccine based on a qualifying medical condition should contact their health care provider.
DC Veterans aged 65 and older may be able to get vaccinated and should visit https://www.washingtondc.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp or call 202-745-8000 for more information.
The following link has the different Phases and Tiers for vaccination: https://tinyurl.com/y4q4vsx7.
How to Obtain an Appointment
Depending on your age, health status, and employment, you may have one or more ways to register for a vaccination appointment.
- At this time, appointments booked through the vaccination portal and call center are open to individuals 18 years old and older.
- Children’s National Hospital will serve as an access point for 16- and 17-year-olds with qualifying medical conditions. Information about how parents or guardians can schedule appointments with Children’s National will be forthcoming next week.
- Vaccination appointments have been made available for DC Public School teachers and staff who are working in person or will be working in person, child care staff, and teachers and staff who are working in person at a DCPS or charter or independent school in DC through One Medical, and instructions have been provided to them. These individuals may also book an appointment through https://vaccinate.dc.gov or by contacting the call center at 855-363-0333 beginning this week.
Please don't forget that appointments may also be obtained directly through the following facilities. Please continue to visit these websites to learn more and find out whether the facility is only accepting former patients or new patients.
- Howard University Hospital
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center
- The George Washington University Hospital
- Sibley Memorial Hospital
- United Medical Center
- Kaiser Permanente members should visit kp.org/DCvaccine
The Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) and the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) are working with Serve DC to pair senior citizens in the community with volunteers who can help them to register for vaccination appointments through the Senior Vaccine Buddies Program.
We encourage you to sign-up for alerts regarding appointment availability at https://vaccinate.dc.gov.
The District’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) cover all transportation (free of charge), to and from, all medically necessary covered services and appointments. To request transportation, the Enrollee should call the following number to schedule the service:
AmeriHealth | Call 1-800-315-3485
CareFirst | Call 1-855-824-5693.
Health Services for Children with Special Needs | Call 1-866-991-5433
MedStar | Call 1-866-201-9974
Vaccination Outreach Efforts
The COVID-19 Clinician Champion Program (DC CCCP): This partnership between DC Health and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia has been established to provide a cadre of medical experts who can serve as speakers during community meetings and events focused on COVID-19 and the importance of the science behind the vaccine.
Requests for Speakers can be made through the DC Health Community Outreach Request Form at https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/community-outreach-request.
To receive updates from DC Health regarding appointment availability visit https://vaccinate.dc.gov and sign up for alerts. Please also sign up for our newsletter at www.brookepintodc.com.