Creigh Deeds, Author at Senator Creigh Deeds

Vaccine Update

March 20, 2021 by Creigh Deeds

Virginia received 271,970 new doses of the vaccine in the past week from the federal government, and 22.7% of Virginians have received at least one vaccine dose. These vaccines have proven to be effective and with their help, we have hope that life can return to normal before too long.

Check out the VDH data dashboard and see the general VDH vaccine website to learn more.

Every Virginia resident should pre-register for the vaccine at vaccinate.virginia.gov or by calling 1-877-829-4682. You can also use this website to check if you are already pre-registered. Once you are pre-registered, you can wait for the state to reach out to you when appointments are available in your area.

If you are in the 1b category of eligibility for the vaccine, you also have the option of signing up for an appointment with a private provider. The following providers are offering appointments in Virginia: CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, Safeway, Food Lion, Giant Food, and CPESN LLC (a network of small pharmacies).

You can use VaccineFinder to help locate available appointments near you.

Updates from local health districts in the 25th Senate District

Alleghany Health District

The priority groups in the Alleghany Health District are healthcare workers, people 65 and older, and certain essential workers including law enforcement, firefighters, licensed childcare staff and teachers. Invitations to sign up will come through an email or phone call.

If you have questions or concerns, you can call the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District Epidemiology Department: at 540-204-9995.

Blue Ridge Health District

The Blue Ridge Health District is closing the mass vaccination site at the former Kmart and replacing it with a new mass vaccination site at the former JCPenney store in the Fashion Square Mall (1639 Rio Road E, Charlottesville, Virginia).

The last day of appointments at Kmart was yesterday. The new site will begin operations on Tuesday 3/23. All second dose appointments that were previously scheduled for Kmart will now be scheduled at the JCPenney site.

For more information, the Blue Ridge Health District held a press conference this week that you can watch here.

Central Shenandoah Health District

This week, the Central Shenandoah Health District expanded their effort to include all groups in the 1b category of eligibility. Unfilled appointment slots are posted on this website at 12:00 PM for the next day – if you are eligible and eager to get vaccinated be sure the check that site.

CSHD is hosting a COVID-19 Community Call-In on Wednesdays from 7-7:45 p.m. and for Spanish speakers from 6-6:45 p.m. If you wish to listen in, call 1-844-992-4729 and enter the following access number: 132 173 5589.

A private provider, Augusta Health, posts appointment slots on their website a few days in advance. However, they fill up quickly.

If you need assistance with state government or if I can be of service to you, the best way to reach me is at my Hot Springs office at (540) 839-2473, my Charlottesville office at (434) 296-5491, or by email at [email protected].

Sine Die

March 5, 2021 by Creigh Deeds

In this most unusual year, the General Assembly adjourned sine die in the most unusual way. We adopted a procedural resolution to extend the 30-day session to the usual 46 days by having a special session the last couple of weeks. We finished our work late on Saturday, February 27, but we did not adjourn sine die until March 1. [Read more…]

Week 7: Final Countdown

February 26, 2021 by Creigh Deeds

The 2021 Session of the General Assembly is rapidly winding down. We are in the throes of the last week, and we have reached a budget agreement. Many bills remain up in the air.

For the second time in my legislative career, I was involved in the final budget negotiations. [Read more…]

Week 6: In the Homestretch

February 19, 2021 by Creigh Deeds

The 2021 Session of the General Assembly is winding down. We only have a week left in the regular session, which is anything but regular this year. We are in a pandemic, and we had to go through extraordinary means simply to meet for the normal 46 days. [Read more…]

Week 5: Budget Week

February 12, 2021 by Creigh Deeds

The 2021 Session is rapidly drawing to a close. Last week we reached crossover, and now the Senate is only considering House bills and the budget. The House of Delegates is considering the budget as well, together with the Senate bills.

Both the House and Senate will adopt versions of the budget today. While preliminary, the Senate budget begins the process of restoring more of the mental health funding that was lost during the pandemic. You will recall that the Governor unallotted a couple billion dollars of spending once the virus wreaked havoc on our economy. Some of the things that I have been working on for a long time, like a loan forgiveness program for mental health professionals and discharge planning for jails with high numbers of inmates with mental health issues, were unallotted. We worked hard to get that vital spending back into the budget.

Other matters, like pay raises for state employees and teachers and funding for school divisions throughout Virginia, are included in the budget, as well as restoring the dental benefit for adult Medicaid patients. [Read more…]