Vaccine distribution continues to evolve quickly, so I want to share a few different ways to understand Arlington County's work on this critical, life-saving priority. The Board has met in a work session on vaccines, in addition to holding our January Board meetings, which included conversations on an MOU with Virginia Hospital Center.
2 Minute Video Showing you our Vaccine Operations
First, the 2 minute video above is a walk-through of Arlington County's vaccine distribution site.
Second, Vice-Chair Katie Cristol and I talk about vaccine distribution in the Board Wrap-Up video below. We are making significant progress on those 75 and older and the first three categories of essential workers after health care workers:
Police, Fire, and Hazmat
Corrections and homeless shelter workers
Childcare/PreK-12 Teachers/Staff
11 minute video giving you the big picture on vaccines
As of late last night, Arlington is at 19,107 doses administered. Our ratio of residents vaccinated per 100,000 is increasing relative to other jurisdictions and there is hope for more doses over the coming weeks. Still, I must be honest with you that the acceleration will be gradual and getting to the approximately 100,000 Arlington residents in category 1b will take weeks and perhaps months. To see a summary of where we are, watch the 11 minute video above.
1 hour 48 minute video of the Board's February 2nd work session on Vaccines
For a longer and thorough discussion of Arlington's vaccinations, including the facts that we have wasted zero doses and distributed 96.8% of the doses we have received, click on the video of our work session above. We address the data missing in our vaccinations received on the Virginia Department of Health website. For a daily update on our vaccines received and distributed, go here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-summary/
We will continue to work flat out on vaccines. It is our top priority by far and we are bringing our full resources and commitment to it.
Summary of the Board Priorities and a look to the possibilities after COVID
A couple of other updates from our January Board meetings. First, in the above conversation, Vice Chair Cristol and I discuss the Board's priorities for 2021. I think you will want to listen as it gives you a sense of all that is on our plate as a community and includes a bit of hope.
Second, the Board approved a development project in Rosslyn that will help build out our Rosslyn Sector plan and includes significant benefits for transportation as well as on-site affordable housing units. If you want to watch that conversation, please go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv0GtHL5wIc&feature=youtu.be.
Finally, two quick updates:
I joined the Kojo Nnamdi show on Friday. Plenty of good questions on a wide range of topics from missing middle to vaccines to the death penalty. Click below to listen to that.
The logo committee that I discussed a lot last year was appointed. I am pleased we are following through on that as it was and is a priority on racial equity that I followed up on and am glad we are following through on.
25 Minutes with Kojo--enjoy.
Thank you for reading and for caring as we continue to work our way through the dark tunnel that is the pandemic to the light at the end of it. There continue to be signs that we are getting closer to that light. Let's work to make sure that all of our family and friends make it to that light: stay home if you can, mask (two please), social distance, wash your hands. Let's work our way all the way through this.
