Dear Jack,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family are doing well during these tough times. We'll be sending out weekly Bulletins to update you on all the information you need in the 13th District.

Session Updates + Survey

The 2021 Session starts this week on January 13th! One of the biggest pieces of legislation I'm working on is a bipartisan bill to curb the rise of Greenway tolls. The entire Loudoun Delegation has come out in support of this bill, and it will be a huge step forward in stopping the rise of Greenway tolls. You can read more at the Loudoun Times-Mirror, and tune into our press conference tomorrow at 11am.

As we head into this session, I want to hear from you about the issues that matter most to you. Please fill out our pre-session survey to let us know what issues you want me to prioritize down in Richmond.

Vaccine Updates

Many constituents have been writing in to ask about vaccines -- how to get one, who qualifies for each vaccine tier, and how Virginia is going to increase the rate of vaccination. Governor Northam gave updates on Wednesday regarding the actions Virginia is taking to speed up vaccine administration, including:

1. A goal of 25,000 shots per day.

2. A "use it or lose it" policy for vaccine providers, where the goal is to administer shots as quickly as possible or receive fewer shots in the next shipment.

3. Dr. Danny T.K. Avula will be leading vaccination efforts in Virginia.

4. K-12 teachers and child care providers will be in the 1b vaccination group, as well as other essential workers.

5. The Virginia National Guard will be providing logistical support for local health departments delivering and administering vaccines.

For more information, including in-depth explanations of the 1a, 1b, and 1c vaccine tiers, see the Governor's press release.

In addition, the VDH recently announced that Phase 1b (seniors 75+ and essential workers) in some localities may be able to start scheduling their vaccines as soon as tomorrow, January 11th. You can contact your health care provider for more information, or visit your local health department's website:

Loudoun County Health and Human Services

Prince William Health District

You can also read more about this limited rollout for individuals in Tier 1b at the Virginia Department of Health website.

Coronavirus Numbers 1/10

*note: vaccine data has been added

As always, please reach out to my office if you need any assistance. My Senate email address is [email protected] and my in-district phone number is (571) 367-9080. I hope you and your family are able to stay safe and healthy during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Senator John J. Bell