“Starting next week, the District will move to a pre-registration system to make immunization appointments.”



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From the mayor’s office:

Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Health, led by Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, announced updates to the registration process for an immunization appointment in Washington, DC.

Starting next week, the District will switch to a pre-registration system to make immunization appointments. Under the new system, individuals will be able to provide their information to DC Health through a pre-registration website or by calling the district call center. As appointments become available, pre-registered people will receive an email, phone call and / or text message informing them that they have the option to make an appointment for the vaccination. Fairness will continue to be a top priority, and DC Health will continue to book appointments for residents living in priority postal codes.

This week, the District will continue to use the vaccinate.dc.gov appointment portal and call center. DC Health and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) have worked with Microsoft to ensure a better user experience. Improvements include increased server availability for the portal and the addition of a “waiting room” that will only allow 3,000 users to access the appointment questionnaire at a time. Additionally, to improve user experience and increase accessibility, this week the CAPTCHA was removed from the vaccinate.dc.gov questionnaire.

Meetings will open at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday for DC residents. This week alone, vaccine appointments will not be open to members of eligible labor groups.

Sure Thursday March 4 at 9:00 a.m. approximately 5,750 appointments will be open to DC residents who live in priority postal codes:

  • DC residents who live in priority postal codes and are aged 65 and over
  • DC residents who live in priority postal codes and are between the ages of 18 and 64 with an eligible health condition

Sure Friday March 5 at 9:00 a.m. approximately 5,750 appointments will be open to DC residents in any zip code:

  • DC residents 65 and over
  • DC residents aged 18 to 64 with a qualifying medical condition

Residents can expect to see several new vaccination sites listed on the portal this week. These new sites will serve as high capacity sites where the Janssen / Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine will be administered. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for use in the United States. While users will be able to see when choosing a vaccination site which vaccine will be given there, DC Health points out that all available vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations and death from COVID-19. Residents are strongly encouraged to take the first vaccine available to them.

Eligible medical conditions include: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic lung diseases; Bone marrow and solid organ transplant; Cancer; Cerebrovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Congenital heart disease; Diabetic sugar; Heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; HIV; Hypertension; Immunocompromised state; Hereditary metabolic disorders; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Liver disease; Neurological conditions; Obesity, BMI ≥ 30 kg / m2; Pregnancy; Severe genetic disorders; Sickle cell disease; and thalassemia.

Residents who are unsure if they are eligible for the vaccine due to a qualifying medical condition should contact their health care provider.

Currently, appointments booked through the portal and call center are open to people 18 years of age and older. District residents aged 16 or 17 with a qualifying medical condition who are not an existing National Children’s Hospital or HSC patient can pre-register for vaccination at the National Children’s Hospital by following the link posted on coronavirus.dc. gov / vaccine.

Priority postal codes are concentrated in wards 5, 7 and 8 and include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593. Priority postal codes include areas of the city where residents are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including the number of cases and the death rate. Wards 5, 7 and 8 are ranked in order of priority because they have the lowest percentages of residents aged 65 and over who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

As of this week, the following populations are now eligible for the vaccine in Washington, DC: people who work in healthcare settings; members of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services; residents of long-term and intermediate care facilities and residents of community residential facilities / group homes; DC residents aged 65 and over; people experiencing homelessness; members of the Metropolitan Police Department; Continuity of district government staff; Employees and residents of the Department of Corrections; teachers and staff who work or will work in person in a traditional or public charter school; educators and child care staff in independent schools in DC; people who work in a grocery store; outreach workers from health, social and social services; people who work in manufacturing; people who work in food packaging; DC residents aged 16 to 64 with qualifying medical conditions.

Updated health guidelines for people vaccinated

Additionally, this week, DC Health updated several guidance documents for people who have been fully immunized. Updated guidance documents on coronavirus.dc.gov/phasetwo:

  • Travel tips
  • First Steps for Non-Healthcare Employers When Employees Test Positive for COVID-19
  • Tips for Close Contact of a Person Confirmed to Have COVID-19
  • Tips for quarantine after exposure to COVID-19

As studies continue on the ability of fully vaccinated people to transmit the virus, people who get vaccinated should continue to wear masks, keep out of society and practice good hygiene. However, as noted in the updated guidance documents, for 90 days after their last dose of vaccine, fully vaccinated people who have no symptoms of COVID-19 do not need to quarantine after close contact. with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This is an example of how daily life will continue to adjust and improve as more and more people get vaccinated. “

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