RICHMOND, Va. -- More than 7,000 people in Central Virginia have received at least one round of COVID-19 vaccine. Across Virginia, the number of healthcare workers and assisted living facility residents and workers vaccinated is up to nearly 90,000.
"This is a vaccination campaign that is just unprecedented in its size, scope, and complexity," Dr. Laurie Forlano, with the Virginia Department of Health, said.
Those factors have contributed to Virginia administering less than 100,000 doses of the 450,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine received so far.
Virginia is putting front-line health care workers and long-term care residents in the top tier priority group for immunizations.
Forlano said the state would layout plans for Phases 1B and 1C later this week.
"When we'll move into those phases depends on a number of things," she said. "Supply of vaccine, how efficiently we move through the priority population in Phase 1, how many people are vaccinated."
Forlano said the Virginia Department of Health was hesitant to give out a specific timeline for vaccinations due to the variables outside of their control including demand versus supply.
For now, she says not only keep an eye on the VDH website but continue to wear a mask and social distance.
State officials previously said they hoped the vaccine would be available to most Virginians by the summer.
More than 1,400 long-term care facilities in Virginia are expected to receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday that CVS and Walgreens will administer the vast majority of the doses.
The pharmacy chains are partnering with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take vaccines directly to the facilities so residents don’t have to travel.