January 22nd Newsletter
The COVID vaccination rollout dialog is continuing 24x7 amongst government leaders, health care providers, the media, and the public. I share many of the concerns expressed regarding delays in vaccinations in Virginia and recognize that we cannot make Virginians safe unless we improve the pace of vaccinations statewide. I also am aware that most of the reasons for those vaccination delays have emanated from issues at the federal level with vaccine distribution planning.
We are fortunate that Governor Northam named the Henrico and Richmond Health Districts director Danny Avula to lead Virginia’s vaccination efforts. Dr. Avula is sometimes referred to as Virginia’s own Dr. Fauci because of his deep public health experience. The state and local health departments are working around the clock to bolster the vaccination infrastructure in Virginia, including the creation of mass vaccination sites. Please see below for more information on phase 1b vaccination registration.
I also encourage you to contact me now and throughout the session: please email my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or call us at 804-698-1073. I will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
2021 Legislative Session
This week was our first full week of the 2021 legislative session. The House has been hard at work in our committee meetings to discuss, debate, and amend legislation before it advances to the House floor. Below is a bill matrix with updates on the legislation I have introduced:
You can see the full text of all my legislation online here. A recent article in the Virginia Mercury highlighted my bill HB2148 which would establish a permit by rule process within the Department of Environmental Quality for small renewable energy storage projects. This bill will help reduce barriers for small renewable energy storage projects and help develop clean energy in Virginia, read more online here.
It has been wonderful to be back in session but I truly miss the hustle and bustle of the Capitol and General Assembly Building and getting the chance to meet face to face with constituents from the 73rd district. Fortunately, video conferencing provides a good substitute for our virtual session. If you or an organization you are involved with would like to schedule a meeting with me during session you can do so online here: https://calendly.com/delrwillett. If none of the times available work for you, please email delrwillett@house.virginia.gov and my staff will be happy to assist you.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
In my newsletter last week I discussed the expansion of phase 1b distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. As a reminder, the following groups are eligible to receive the vaccine in phase 1b:
Frontline essential workers
Adults aged 65 and older.
People 16-64 with certain conditions or disabilities that increases their risk of severe illness from COVID-19. See a list of conditions here.
People living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and migrant labor camps.
Because there is not sufficient supply at this time to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1b immediately, local health districts will reach out to engage the Frontline Essential Worker groups in vaccination planning in the following order:
Police, Fire, and Hazmat
Corrections and homeless shelter workers
Childcare/PreK-12 Teachers/Staff (public and private)
Food and Agriculture (including veterinarians)
Manufacturing
Grocery store workers
Public transit workers
Mail carriers (USPS and private)
Officials needed to maintain continuity of government (including judges and public facing judicial workers)
Overlap of vaccination of groups is expected to ensure people in Phase 1b are vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible. Opportunities to vaccinate Frontline Essential Workers should not be missed.
Information for Frontline Workers/Employers
Local health departments, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and employer-based occupational health units are working collaboratively to vaccinate frontline essential workers. Frontline essential workers may be most likely to receive the vaccine through employer-based vaccination clinics. Others will get the vaccine through their local health department or through arrangements with pharmacies and healthcare providers.
If you are a frontline worker, contact your employer to ask about the vaccination plan for your company or organization. You can also fill out a phase 1b interest form with the Henrico Health Department online here. You may also fill out the form as an employer on behalf of your organization.
Information for 65+ or 16-64 with Medical Conditions
Many of the people who are included in Phase 1b because of their age or a medical condition that places them at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness will be offered the vaccine through their healthcare provider. Others in this category will be able to access vaccination through their local health department or through arrangements with healthcare systems and pharmacies. If you are in this group and would like to receive a vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider and fill out the phase 1b interest form with the Henrico Health Department online here.
Eviction Moratorium and Housing Support
On Wednesday, President Biden extended the federal ban on evictions through March 2021 through an executive order. The eviction moratorium was originally put in place by President Trump last summer and was originally extended through the end of January 2021 by Congress with the passage of the December stimulus package.
The extension of the moratorium will provide temporary relief to tenants who have faced economic hardship as a result of the virus but the order also has positive implications for our public health. When a person has been evicted, they often seek help from family, friends, or community services like homeless shelters. This displacement creates a breeding ground for the COVID-19 virus to spread, especially in economically disadvantaged communities that are already at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
You can read a statement on the extension of the moratorium from the new CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky online here. If you are in need of financial assistance for your rent or mortgage, you may be eligible for support from the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program. You can check your eligibility and apply online here.
