Loudoun Co. To Require Pre-Screening Survey For COVID-19 Vaccines

Ashburn VA

15 January, 2021

10:01 AM

Description

ASHBURN, VA – A day after state health officials announced that residents aged 65 and older would be bumped up to Phase 1b of the distribution process for the coronavirus vaccines, Loudoun County officials said Friday they will require those seeking vaccinations to complete a pre-screening survey. Also added to the Phase 1b priority list are Virginia residents between the ages of 16-64 who have a high-risk medical condition or disability that increases their risk of severe illness from the coronavirus, officials said. County health officials said that the pre-screening survey will be required for all individuals and organizations that are in the Phase 1b priority group. Requests for vaccines will no longer be accepted by email, county officials said, and only those who do not have access to the Internet may call the Loudoun County Health Department's COVID-19 hotline, officials said. The health department is only accepting vaccination requests from those in the 1a and 1b priority groups as supplies of the vaccines in Loudoun County remain limited at this time, officials said. Officials said that there are currently thousands of more requests for the vaccines than doses the county has available, according to a Loudoun County spokesman, who said it is not known when the county will receive more doses of the vaccines. The county is not able to add additional vaccination appointments at this time but pre-screening surveys may be submitted so they are on record at the time when more doses of the vaccines become available, officials said. Officials said that once residents complete the pre-screening survey, it may take days or weeks to receive a response because health officials are not currently scheduling appointments for the vaccinations. Once the survey is submitted, officials said there is no need to call the health department. Those who do not have access to the Internet may call the Loudoun County COVID-19 health department at (703) 737-8300 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Officials warn there could be a significant delay in reaching an operator due to heavy call volume.