COVID Update
While progress has been made vaccinating Virginia residents, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Please take a moment to pre-register for the vaccine by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA. If you have already pre-registered, please update your record. Verifying information and updating your record will not change your pre-registration date or reference code, meaning you won’t lose your place in line. There are still not enough doses available yet for everyone who is eligible to receive them at this time and it may take weeks before vaccination appointments become available for those who have pre-registered. We will share information as it becomes available. Virginia is now administering vaccines from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. All three vaccines are safe and virtually eliminate the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19. While there are a variety of differences between the three vaccines, the most important is that Johnson & Johnson only requires one dose rather than the two doses required by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Vaccine brands are assigned to clinics based on logistical needs, such as shipping quantities and storage temperatures, and not based on demographics or geography. The Virginia Department of Health created a fact sheet that compares the three vaccines. Visit the VDH website to view the document in English and Spanish. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance on March 8 about what people can do when they are fully vaccinated (which occurs two weeks after their final vaccine dose). The guidance notes that because public health researchers are still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19, even people who are fully vaccinated should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing masks, staying six feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. To learn more, visit the CDC website. As the weather is improving, we know people want to get outside. We are pleased to share that, in Newport News, playgrounds, basketball courts, park trails, bikeway trails, and many other amenities are open. The campground, disc golf course, Fido Field Dog Park, and Newport News Golf Course are also open. Head to one of our beautiful parks to walk, bike, run, fish, play and much more. Visit www.nnparks.com for more details.