State takes over registering people for COVID vaccines

Beginning Tuesday, the state is taking over the registration process for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The information of everyone who has already registered with their health districts will be imported into the statewide system. (In the Blue Ridge Health District, registration meant filling out an online survey built on a Google Form.)

“Individuals will maintain their current status in the queue and will be able to search that they are in the new system starting Tuesday morning,” the local health district said.

The district added that more information about the statewide registration system will be released Tuesday.

The change comes as the Blue Ridge Health District continues to vaccinate individuals in Phase 1A and some people in Phase 1B. There remains a shortage of vaccines across Virginia. Currently, the BRHD is receiving fewer than 3,000 doses a week. More than 40,000 people have “registered” to receive the vaccine in the district.

In addition to the BRHD, a Charlottesville CVS is now receiving a few hundred additional doses of vaccine a week from the federal government. Per state instructions, CVS is vaccinating only individuals who are 65 and older and have already registered with their local health department.

While people must wait for the health department to set up an appointment, CVS is opening appointments at unannounced intervals on its website — as they receive doses — and booking spots with the first people who happen upon them.