Update on DC Government Employee Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, DC launched its pre-registration system for making vaccination appointments.

Eligible residents and workers are encouraged to go online at vaccinate.dc.gov to sign up. If you do not have access to a computer or smartphone, or need extra assistance, you can also pre-register via the Call Center at 1-855-363-0333.

This new system replaces the previous system that did not permit pre-registration but did allow for immediate appointment booking. In this new system, once you do pre-register wait to get a call, text and/or email (your choice) telling you that it is time to make a vaccination appointment. This could take days, weeks, or months depending on your risk factors and eligibility, as well as whether you reside in priority DC ZIP codes. However, everyone who registers will eventually get a vaccine. 

If you are eligible and you do receive notice that an appointment is open to you, you will have 48 hours to book it. The link you receive (or call) in that notice will only be good for booking one appointment. Please be sure to check your spam folders.

At this time, we ask that only currently eligible DC residents and workers pre-register on the site. Signing up via the site will not at this time make you more likely to receive an appointment sooner, especially if you are not currently eligible. We will follow-up with additional communications as to when all DC residents and workers are welcome to pre-register.

If you are already vaccinated, we need you to reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors and talk to them about their plans to pre-register and get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe, effective, and the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our community against COVID-19.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, and to sign-up for regular updates on the availability of appointments, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine.

DC residents who are 65 years or older, or 18 to 64 with qualifying Phase 1c Tier 1 medical conditions.

For DC residents who are 16 or 17 years of age and have a qualifying medical condition, and are not an existing patient of Children's National Hospital or HSC, please pre-register for a vaccination at Children’s National Hospital.

DC residents who are veterans and 65 years or older may also be able to get vaccinated through the VA Medical Center. Go online at va.gov or call 202-745-4342.

If you are scheduling your vaccination appointment outside of the portal and instead through your place of work, that process should continue as normal.

Individuals working in health care settings, including:

• District-run clinics and Saint Elizabeths Hospital
• COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites
• District-owned animal shelter

Individuals working for Fire & Emergency Medical Services (FEMS), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), or Department of Corrections (DOC) OR working in public safety settings, including:

• Firehouses and FEMS central offices
• Police stations and MPD headquarters
• DC Jail
• DYRS youth detention facilities 
• Protective Services Division staff

These employees should contact their supervisors for further information on scheduling an appointment.

Individuals who are school or childcare workers, including: 

• DC Public Schools (DCPS) school sites
• Public Charter Schools (PCS) school sites
• District-run childcare sites, including active Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) Cooperative Play Program sites

Individuals working in residential care settings, including:

• DC Housing Authority (DCHA) senior housing facilities
• District-supported group homes 

Individuals working in emergency and low barrier homelessness services settings, including: 

• Hypothermia shelters 
• Low barrier shelters, such as 801 East and Harriet Tubman 
• Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) site 

Individuals working in health and human services outreach, including: 

• COVID-19, clinical, and public health outreach, such as Vaccine Buddies 
• Homelessness outreach, such as Street Outreach 
• Public safety outreach, such as Violence Interrupters, Cure the Streets, and Roving Leaders 
• Senior outreach, such as DCHA and Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) check-ins 
• In-home and on-site crisis services for vulnerable/at-risk children, youth, families, and individuals 

Individuals working in grocery settings and food packaging, including:

• DACL senior meal delivery program 
• DCPS meal program 
• Human Services meal program 

This week, DC Health will begin sending notification of available appointments on Friday, March 12 and Monday March 15.

Going forward, DC Health will release newly available appointments on a regular schedule as the District receives additional doses from the Federal Government:

• Thursdays by 10am
• Sundays by 10am
• Tuesdays by 10am (if available appointments remain un-booked)

This week’s priority DC ZIP codes are – 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20003, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20422 and 20593.

The overall breakdown of allotment of appointments through the pre-registration system is:

• 40% to DC residents 65+ (20% living in priority ZIP codes; 20% citywide)
• 40% to DC residents 18-64 with qualifying conditions (20% living in priority ZIP codes; 20% citywide)
• 20% to eligible DC workers (10% living in priority ZIP codes; 10% citywide)

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, and to sign-up for regular updates on the availability of appointments, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine.