CVS has started to offer COVID-19 vaccines here in the Alexandria area, including Fairfax County, but getting an appointment might be tricky.
Supplies of vaccines remain limited, and CVS is only offering appointments to those over age 65, despite earlier guidance that the pharmacy would cover anyone in vaccine groups 1a or 1b.
Despite efforts by local officials to coordinate a registration system with the Alexandria and Fairfax County health departments, CVS has its own registration system, available at www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.
People interested in a vaccine are allowed to register through both the city or county health departments and through CVS at the same time, but local health department officials are pleading with people who get their vaccine through CVS to remove themselves from the health department waiting lists so others can get vaccinated faster.
CVS is not accepting walk-ins and not all CVS pharmacies have vaccines available. Interested residents must schedule through the CVS system for an appointment. Appointments begin Feb. 12, but all appointments through at least the weekend appear to be taken already statewide.
Vaccine supply has continued to be an issue nationwide, with more people eager to get vaccinated than supply and personnel can handle.
In the City of Alexandria, as of Tuesday night, just 2,925 residents are fully vaccinated (two doses), and another 13,208 are partially vaccinated (one dose). There are more than 100,000 residents over the age of 18 in the city who could be vaccinated.
Vaccine distribution is on the increase, however, and the region can expect to start getting more doses each week in the coming months.
Register for a vaccine through the City of Alexandria Heath Dept. here.
