The Three Rivers Health District—which includes Gloucester and Mathews counties—scheduled Tuesday as the day to begin vaccinating people in the Phase 1b priority group. The vaccinations are not open to the public.

Those eligible to receive the vaccine during Phase 1b, according to a press release, are police, fire and hazmat response personnel; those living and working in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and migrant labor camps; child care and K-12 teachers and staff; food and agriculture workers; and manufacturers.

Also eligible are grocery store workers; public transit workers; mail carriers (both U.S. Postal Service and private); anyone aged 65 or older; and individuals aged 16–64 years with high-risk medical conditions.

Several “point of dispensing” vaccination clinics will be scheduled each week, said the release. Those being vaccinated will need to provide a personal form of identification, such as a driver’s license, and may also be asked to show proof of qualification, such as a work ID, in order to verify eligibility.

Essential employees will be scheduled through their employers. Vaccination planning teams are reaching out to coordinate with employers in Phase 1b, said the release. Those employers will be asked to create a spreadsheet that includes all the qualifying employees’ names and contact information, and indicate which employees are willing to receive the vaccine.

Individuals 65 and older and those 16–64 with high-risk medical conditions should contact their primary care physician if they are affiliated with a health care system such as Riverside or Bon Secours. If their health care provider is not affiliated with a health care system, they should call the Three Rivers Health District COVID-19 Resource Center to request an appointment. That number is 804-824-2733. The release said that the health district is experiencing a high volume of calls and asked that callers be patient.

Virginians who don’t fall into any of the priority phases will be offered the vaccine when it is more widely available, said the release. Once it is rolled out to the general public, distribution will be similar to the flu vaccine.

In the meantime, said the release, “it is important to remain vigilant … Continue to protect yourself and others: cover your mouth and nose with a mask, wash your hands often and well, stay at least six feet away from others, avoid gatherings with anyone who is not a member of your household, and get a flu shot.”

To determine eligibility for the vaccine and find out more about the phases, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine.