Gov. Ralph Northam speaks at his Jan. 14 COVID-19 update.
As part of a federal push to speed up the pace of vaccinations, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the state will immediately expand COVID-19 vaccination availability to Virginians ages 65 and older, as well as others with health issues.
With regard to the expansion of vaccinations, “this means about half of Virginia is eligible for the vaccine,” Northam said. He added that the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps is training volunteers to administer shots and called for anyone with medical training — including retired doctors and other providers — to volunteer.
State Vaccine Coordinator Dr. Danny Avula said that vaccination expansion is moving quickly but is not yet at the 50,000 doses a day that is needed to establish “herd immunity.”
