Gov. Ralph Northam has outlined the state's plan and goals for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
In priority phase 1A, health care workers and employees and residents in long-term care facilities are receiving vaccines first. This group covers about 500,000 people requiring 1 million doses of the vaccine.
Phase 1B includes first responders, child care workers, K-12 teachers, front line essential workers in manufacturing, food and grocery, transit and postal workers, and those 75 years and older. This group numbers 1.2 million Virginians.
Phase 1C includes essential workers in construction, transportation, food service and utilities, as well as people 65 or over, and adults with high-risk medical conditions. This group covers 2.5 million Virginians.
Northam hopes to have all the vaccinations in this first phase completed by spring. Then vaccinations will be open to the general public.
About 115,000 vaccines have been given out in Virginia so far, but Northam says that number has to go up and fast. He is asking health systems to vaccinate their employees as quickly as possible.
The Governor says Virginia needs to ramp up to giving out at least 50,000 shots a day.
Once vaccines become available to the general public, the state will provide information and online tools to announce where to get the shots and how to sign up.
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.