Eastern Shore moving to Phase 1c

Health district is first in Eastern Virginia to move to this stage for the COVID-19 vaccine

The first health district in Eastern Virginia will begin vaccinating people in group 1c, according to a news release.

The Eastern Shore Health District made the announcement Tuesday.

Eligible individuals in Phase 1c include workers in energy, water, wastewater and waste removal, housing and construction, food service, transportation and logistics, higher education, finance, information technology and communications, media, legal services, public safety and public health.

Health officials said first doses in Phase 1b are almost complete.

The district will start to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to those in group 1c while people receive their second doses.

“This will allow us to move to vaccinating our general population more quickly” said Jon Richardson, chief operating officer of the Eastern Shore Health District.

The district consists of Accomack and Northampton counties.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, 12,625 people have received one dose in the two counties and 7,811 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Eastern Shore Health District will partner with the Eastern Shore Rural Health System and Riverside Medical Group to administer vaccines to those in Phase 1c, the release said.

Although people will receive a vaccine, health officials urge individuals to continue practicing mitigation strategies until cases decline.

“Receiving the vaccine for COVID-19 does not mean life goes back to pre-pandemic times but each vaccination gets us closer,” the release said. “Even after receiving the vaccine, it will remain important to continue masking, maintaining social distancing and avoiding crowded areas until we see case counts drop in the coming months and public health authorities indicate it is safe to relax protective measures.”