Here’s why the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Virginia is progressing more slowly than expected

ROANOKE, Virginia – We have to do better.

This is the message from a local health director addressing the gaps and confusion regarding the distribution of the COVID vaccine.

As many health districts move into Priority Group 1b, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District Director Dr Cynthia Morrow said they were facing roadblocks.

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“We recognize that a lot of people are afraid, they are frustrated. Our figures confirm it. This fear and frustration is understandable and we are also frustrated that we have neither the vaccine supply nor the infrastructure to immunize everyone at once, ”Morrow said.

10 News brought these concerns to Virginia’s Vaccine Coordinator Dr Danny Avula, who said we are dependent on federal government procurement.

It is then up to VDH to distribute these doses across Virginia, depending on the size of the population and the infrastructure needed to vaccinate people.

“We have about 110,000 doses coming in every week and not everyone will get what they ask for,” Avula explained.

Those numbers are unlikely to improve until production increases and other vaccine options are on the market, which Avula says would likely be in late March.

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“I want people to keep that hope, but recognize that the reality is that it will take months for a vaccine to reach our communities for us to reach this place of collective immunity,” said Avula.

As local services scramble to enroll eligible people, Morrow admits they can do better.

“There are a lot of opportunities for us to improve and we will. In the meantime, I can’t stress enough that people be patient, ”Morrow said.

Morrow said they are working to improve communication and the ability to enroll people. She is also encouraging young, healthy people who might be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to wait so other people at higher risk can get theirs first.

Click here to find out when you can get vaccinated.