DC Opens Up COVID Vaccine Sites and Eligibility

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News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues

25th Council session information coming soon.

DC Opens Up COVID Vaccine Sites and Eligibility

Apr 6, 2021, 07:56 AM by MSDC Staff

To boost local vaccination rates, the District is opening another mass vaccination site and accelerating eligibility timelines.

On Monday, the Mayor announced new milestones to get more COVID vaccine shots into arms, as well as loosened some pandemic social restrictions.

The announcements come as the vaccination rate for DC residents slowly climbs and the number of cases plateau. As of April 5, 23% of District residents had received at least one dose of a vaccine. That number is 8% of Ward 8 residents, however.

The Mayor announced that in two weeks, the District will begin scheduling vaccine appointments for all residents over the age of 16. Currently, the District is in Phase 1B, with expansion to Phase 1C to begin next week. In addition, Arena Stage will begin offering vaccinations as a "high capacity" site beginning this weekend. DC Health and MedStar Health will operate the facility.

Arena Stage joins the Convention Center, Entertainment and Sports Arena, and Providence as the District-based high capacity centers. This week saw a new high-capacity vaccination center open in Greenbelt, Maryland, that permitted DC residents to register for vaccinations. Arena Stage is expected to offer one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines, while a new Safeway partnership will boost the number of Pfizer vaccines at the Convention Center.

As a reminder, any District resident over the age of 16 may pre-register for a vaccine appointment now at coronavirus.dc.gov. The District is urging residents to do so to allow appointment scheduling to go smoothly when eligibility expands in the coming weeks.

At her Monday press conference, the Mayor also announced anticipated relaxations of pandemic restrictions next month. Some of the new allowances anticipated include:

Business meetings and conventions will be allowed at indoor and outdoor venues at 25% capacity
Graduation ceremonies will be allowed both indoors and outdoors with more guidance to follow
Recreation centers and fitness facilities will operate at 50% capacity
Libraries and museums can operate at 50% capacity

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools

Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.

Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.

MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.

Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.