From Sen. Ghazala Hashmi <[email protected]>
Subject Updates on Vaccinate Virginia and progress in the General Assembly
Date February 19, 2021 4:31 PM
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Friends,

This week, the Commonwealth launched a Statewide Vaccine Pre-Registration System: [link removed]. The new system helps Virginians to pre-register, receive communications, and identify their registration status. The new system replaces the previous “interest forms” that had been deployed by the individual health districts.

An expanded call center also launched this week to assist with questions about the vaccine. The hotline (877-VAX-in-VA or 877-829-4682) helps Virginians with information about vaccines, sites of administration, status of registration, and other relevant questions.

At this time, Virginia is currently receiving approximately 129,000 vaccine doses per week from the federal government. This number is not expected to increase until March.

These vaccines are allocated by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to local health districts. All local health districts in Virginia are in Phase 1b of vaccine eligibility. Nearly 50% of all Virginians are now eligible for the vaccine, including:


Frontline essential workers

People aged 65 years and older

People with high-risk medical conditions identified by the CDC

People living in congregate settings


Because the population size of Phase 1b is estimated to be nearly 4 million people, vaccines for this Phase will continue through March or April of 2021.

Additionally, 36 CVS Pharmacy locations in Virginia are now receiving vaccine doses directly from the federal government. These doses are available to individuals who are 65 and older, and who schedule an appointment with a participating CVS location. People who receive the first dose of vaccine will be scheduled for their second dose for three or four weeks later. The CVS vaccine program is separate from the VDH effort and registration information is located here: www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.

In the last few weeks, Governor Northam has instituted the following guidelines:


He extended Executive Order 72 through February 28, which maintains the 10-person limit on social gatherings, the requirement to wear masks in public places, and safety guidelines for businesses.

On February 5, Governor Northam indicated that all public school districts in Virginia should resume some in-person instruction options by March 15, 2021.


As cases, hospitalizations, and deaths decline, it’s more important than ever that we remain vigilant in staying home when possible, wearing masks when out, social distancing, and washing hands frequently.

Thank you, as always, for doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

General Assembly budget updates
The General Assembly is defining its final budget details. The Democratic Senate Caucus shares these highlights:

Economy


Providing income tax forgiveness for small businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans

Introducing tax exemptions for businesses purchasing personal protective equipment

Creating a low-cost credit line for COVID-impacted businesses

Including a record-breaking investment for the Housing Trust Fund

Supporting critical public transit services and expanding intercity passenger rail

Raising salaries for state and state-supported local employees, capitol police, constitutional officers, and others


Education


Increasing proposed pay increase for teachers from 2% to 3%

Maintaining and increasing funding for special school positions such as counselors, school nurses, social workers, and psychologists

Requiring in-person learning options to students during the 2021-2022 school year

Creating the “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” (G3) Program for our 23 community colleges to encourage associates' degree programs in high-demand fields

Funding state colleges’ and universities’ COVID-19 testing, financial aid, and other items

Scholarship availability for Virginia’s Historically Black Colleges, Norfolk State University and Virginia State University


Health


Providing funding for mass vaccination administration effort

Increasing local health department funding for 75 new positions, including epidemiologists and communicable disease nurses

Purchasing PPE and other equipment necessary to support state health workers and the health equity workgroup

Fully funding state psychiatric hospitals impacted by increases in population


Justice


Implementing initial start-up costs of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority

Expanding the Court of Appeals, providing for six additional judgeships and support staff

Creating a new grant program to provide paid internships at Virginia’s HBCUs to expand the catalogue of historical properties to include underrepresented African American and indigenous communities


Upcoming Town Hall with Senator Tim Kaine
I hope that you will join me next week as special guest Senator Tim Kaine joins me to discuss a variety of concerns that impact Virginians as we work to recover from the pandemic through our healthcare, economic, and education systems.

[link removed]

Contacting our office
As always, if you need assistance, or if you want to schedule a Zoom or phone call with our team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected].

— Ghazala Hashmi

 

 









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PO Box 72923
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Senator Ghazala Hashmi was elected to represent Virginia Senate District 10 in 2019. She has led efforts in the General Assembly to support education, protect healthcare and the environment, and prevent gun violence. Senator Hashmi is committed to ensuring Virginia's government works for everyone.


 












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