RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s state health department has launched a centralized website where people can pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The website went live Tuesday.
Previously, Virginia’s local health districts were handling pre-registration. The state says Virginians who have already pre-registered will be automatically imported into the new system and do not need to sign up again.
Some internet users reported having trouble accessing the site Tuesday morning. The health department said in a news release that it was expecting millions of unique visits to the site Tuesday and anyone who can’t get through immediately should keep trying.
The state is also launching a phone hotline Wednesday to accompany the online portal.
Anyone seeking a vaccine through CVS, which is offering vaccines to eligible populations at a limited number of pharmacies across the state, must register for those appointments separately. And in northern Virginia, the Fairfax Health Department has opted to maintain their local registration website.
Those currently eligible for a vaccine in Virginia include anyone 65 and older, along with certain essential workers and younger people with underlying conditions. Also eligible are people living and working in homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and migrant labor camps. Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine continues to far outstrip supply.
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