At VCU Medical Center, nurse manager Audrey Roberson receives the coronavirus vaccination from nurse Veronica Nolden while Gov. Ralph Northam watches. Roberson was the first frontline medical worker at VCU to get the Pfizer vaccine. Photo by Kevin Morley/
With more than 1.6 million Virginians having received COVID-19 vaccinations, the number of people age 65 and older seeking COVID-19 shots is beginning to slow down, Dr. Danny Avula said Friday. That has left more appointments open for younger people with health issues or who work in essential jobs.
Avula, the state’s vaccine coordinator, said he is confident Virginia will be able to open up eligibility to all adult residents by May 1, the deadline proposed by President Joe Biden this week, and possibly up to two weeks earlier. Unlike in January, when Gov. Ralph Northam opened eligibility to everyone in group 1b, which led to widespread frustration amid lower supply and far greater demand, Avula said that greater supply of vaccine doses and increased capacity to administer shots make this round much smoother.
“We’re in a completely different vaccine environment,” Avula said.
