Vaccine--how to register and Information, Inauguration Safety, and MLK Day

Dear Friend,

I want to update you on vaccine distribution and our public safety professionals work to keep Arlington safe through the inauguration this coming Wednesday.

Yesterday was also the day we honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. My thoughts on how we can serve and what this moment means are at the bottom in a 3 minute video.

The Sequoia Building where 1800 Arlington Public School Employees from custodians to teachers to principals were vaccinated yesterday and Saturday.

First, on vaccine distribution, the group of individuals eligible for vaccines has changed dramatically from Friday, January 8th when I last wrote. Category 1b was opened 10 days ago, and it was then expanded significantly. Residents age 75 and older were only recently added and those who are 65-74 years old where added just this past Thursday.

To learn more about vaccinations in Arlington you can try our vaccinations website below:

Go here for our updated COVID 19 Vaccine Website

There are two main ways to get vaccinated. First, if you are 75 or older or a health care worker you can go to the Virginia Hospital Center's website to schedule an appointment. The County is partnering with Virginia Hospital Center for this group of residents. Go here to sign up:

https://www.virginiahospitalcenter.com/patients-visitors/safe-care-with-us/covidvaccine/

You should know that the Governor's decision to open up vaccine eligibility to those 65 to 74 does not mean you will get your first dose immediately, as many eligible groups have not yet been vaccinated. Please also know that the VHC website makes you reenter your data if the appointment time you choose is already booked. We are working to see if we can fix that. Please know this: there is not yet enough vaccine--that is the sole limitation on getting more doses in arms.

The above picture shows phases, but does not guarantee that you will be able to get an appointment. Go here to see this graphic in larger form: https://www.arlingtonva.us/covid-19/vaccines/

If you are an essential worker as defined in 1b, go here to our County's sign-up to get an appointment:

https://www.arlingtonva.us/covid-19/vaccines/registration/

Police, Fire, Hazmat, Homeless Shelters and Correctional Facilities and educators are first in 1b. If you have not gotten an email through your employer if you are in one of those groups, please contact your employer to obtain one. I have not yet gotten a dose--because I am working from home and do not yet need one as I am not at most risk.

Phase 1b is Coming Monday: what you need to know

Last on vaccines, I just shared a statement last night that the County’s ability to inoculate those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is limited only by the availability of vaccine supply:

“Today Arlington will be inoculating 900 Arlington County teachers, after inoculating 900 on Saturday,” de Ferranti said. “We have the capacity to do at least 2,000 doses per day or 14,000 per week, and we can do more if we were assured a greater supply. The County Manager and our Public Health Director have informed me that currently, we are being promised only 1,400 doses this week of the first-dose vaccine."

Go here to read the rest of my statement: https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/vaccine-availability-limits-arlingtons-covid-19-vaccine-distribution/

Your Safety as We Prepare for the Inauguration

Our public safety professionals are working to keep you safe in preparation for inauguration. Our public safety professionals are working without leave through Wednesday and the County Manager and County Board are being updated. Some bridges will close.

Please read the press release below to understand that as of the time I send this Tuesday morning, there are no known threats to Arlington, our police are ready, and you can help to keep our community safe. Go here to learn more. https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-county-prepares-for-59th-presidential-inauguration/

My three minute introduction to Arlington's MLK Celebration: a few thoughts on the dream in 2021.

Last, Dr. King's day is perhaps my favorite holiday. Even though there is so much happening, please take a couple of minutes to watch my video. And please remember Dr. King's words, “Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

Helping deliver groceries near Campbell Elementary. The young man with the 4 boxes wanted to do it all :)

Today, 17 days in as your chair, I am working with our County staff to help distribute vaccines, I am deeply grateful to our public safety professionals who are working to keep us safe, and I served you on MLK with a full heart.

Yours,

Matt

P.S. To reach me via email for now, email [email protected] as my Matt for Arlington email is down. Also, I want you to know that Amazon is pledging $381.9 million to Arlington for affordable housing. To learn more: housing. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/amazon-pledges-2b-for-affordable-housing-in-3-us-cities/2021/01/06/90730d76-504a-11eb-a1f5-fdaf28cfca90_story.html

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Matt for Arlington · 2001 15th St N Apt 506 · Arlington, VA 22201-2693 · USA