Giant will be one of the first retailers in the district to administer Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine.
Starting Saturday, healthcare workers working in senior families can be vaccinated at Giant Pharmacies as part of the district’s Phase 1A rollout, the retailer said.
Download our free NBC Washington app for iOS or Android for the latest local news and weather.
“We are confident that our pharmacies and trusted pharmacists will be willing to do our part to keep our communities safe and healthy,” said Paul Zvaleny, director of Pharmacy Operations at Giant in a press release.
The DC Health Department will make appointments and notify eligible people when they can take their photos.
Thousands of vaccine doses have been distributed to DC, including 12,000 from the federal government and 8,000 from the state of Maryland.
What the data shows
According to DC’s COVID-19 digital hub, DC has delayed the released December 24 data until the day after Christmas, “out of respect for the health workers who worked tirelessly during the pandemic.”
Six more residents, including a 97-year-old man, have died of COVID-19. Another 274 residents tested positive for the virus on Thursday, the city said.
Maryland has reported 4,712 new cases of coronavirus as of Thursday. Hospital admissions have fallen to 1,685.
To date, 18,789 Marylanders have been given vaccine doses, including 3,676 in the National Capital Region.
Virginia reported 1,105 new cases on Saturday, dropping the seven-day moving average of cases to 2,788. The vacation may have affected the number of positive cases counted.
Virginia reported 2,187 hospital admissions for the coronavirus on Saturday, a drop from the record number of hospital admissions for the coronavirus on Christmas Eve.
A total of 43,043 people in Virginia received their first dose of vaccine. Fairfax County leads the pack, with 3,658 shots to residents to date.
Local headlines about the coronavirus
Reopen tracker
While COVID-19 treatments have improved and a vaccine is on the way, even a mild case of the virus can cause long-term complications, including the possibility of erectile dysfunction. Dr. Dena Grayson, infectious disease expert, joined LX News with a warning not to disappoint our guards while we wait for a vaccine.
How to Stay Safe
Anyone can get COVID-19. Here are three simple ways the CDC says you can lower your risk:
- Wear a tight-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Avoid being indoors with people who are not part of your household. The more people you put in contact, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. If you’re indoors with people you don’t live with, stay at least six feet apart and keep your mask on.
- Wash your hands often, especially after being in a public place.