All Va. adults to be eligible for vaccines by April 18

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that all Virginians age 16 and older will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 18, ahead of a May 1 national deadline set by President Joe Biden.

Northam made the announcement during a visit to a vaccination clinic at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prince William County, noting that most residents in the highest risk groups who have pre-registered for a vaccine have received at least one dose. Also, much of the state has moved into phase 1c, the last group of prioritized Virginians in essential jobs in the fields of energy, higher education, finance, legal, housing and construction, and other sectors.

Once residents in this group who are registered for a vaccine have received shots or been contacted for appointments, the state moves into what it calls “phase 2,” allowing anyone age 16 or older to receive a vaccination. According to the governor’s office, health districts can individually open vaccination to the general public beginning Sunday, April 4, if they have contacted all local residents registered in group 1c to get their shots.

All adult residents of Virginia can now register to get vaccinated at vaccinate.virginia.gov or call (877) VAX-IN-VA, or (877) 829-4682.

So far, the state has administered 3.85 million vaccine doses, and 30.1% of the state’s population has received at least one dose. More than 1.3 million people, or 16.1% of the state’s population, is fully vaccinated, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

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