Fredericksburg Area Vaccine Update: Phase 1c Continues

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Rappahannock Area Health District continues to vaccine eligible individuals in Phase 1c as cases in the region rise. More than 98,000 people have been vaccinated in the Rappahannock Area Health District, which included the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George in addition to the city of Fredericksburg.

Last week, the health district began vaccinating people in Phase 1c of the state's rollout plan. Phase 1c includes essential workers in food service, construction, legal services, and waste removal. The full list of eligible groups in Phase 1c is available online.

While the health district vaccinated more than 9,000 people last week, coronavirus cases and positivity rates continued to rise in each of the district's five localities. In Fredericksburg, the positivity rate ballooned from 5 per cent to 9 per cent.

In light of these rising positivity rates, Dr. Denise Bonds of the health district cautioned residents. "Our current data shows that the number of new cases per day is higher than during either of the peaks which occurred during the summer of 2020," Dr. Bonds said last week. "We ask for our community's ongoing commitment to preventing the spread of COVID-19 for the next few months as we continue to develop immunity through expanded vaccination efforts."

See also: COVID Cases Rising In Fredericksburg, Precautions Still Necessary

The Rappahannock Area Health District is still hosting vaccination clinics once a week in each of its localities, according to their website. Here is the schedule, according to the health district:

• Mondays- Caroline County
• Tuesdays- City of Fredericksburg
• Wednesdays- Spotsylvania County
• Thursdays- Stafford County
• Fridays- King George County

Currently, all vaccinations through the health district are by appointment only. No walk-ins will be accepted.

To register for the vaccine, residents should sign up for the state's preregistration list. Anyone can preregister for the vaccine, regardless of their current eligibility. The Rappahannock Area Health District pulls from the state's list to schedule vaccine appointments.

People without internet access can call the state's vaccine hotline at 877-829-4682.