COVID Vaccine Information for District of Columbia Residents

Updated January 21, 2021

Current COVID-19 vaccine supply is limited, and vaccination will happen in phases. While more doses are being produced to meet the demand, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have identified high-risk, high-priority groups whom they recommend to receive the vaccine first. Each state is reviewing the guidance from the CDC and ACIP and determining who gets the vaccine and when in their state.

If you live and work in different states:
To understand when you qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine based on your job (e.g., if you’re an essential worker), please look at the phases for the state where you work. To understand when you qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine based on your age or health conditions, look at the phases for the state where you live.

Below is detailed information on how the District of Columbia is defining the phases of COVID-19 vaccination. Click here to read our frequently asked questions, or scroll to the bottom of this page.

What phase is the District of Columbia currently in?

CURRENT PHASE: The District of Columbia is currently finishing Phase 1a and has begun Phase 1b, Tier 1.

Phase 1a (in progress)

Who qualifies?

Long-term-care residents
Healthcare personnel (including veterinary medicine)
Fire and emergency medical personnel
Frontline public-health workers

Phase 1b, Tier 1 (in progress)

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for the previous phase
DC residents age 65 and older
Correctional Officers
Those who live or work in congregate settings (intermediate care facilities, community residential facilities, group homes, homeless shelters). Non-healthcare personnel supporting operations of COVID-19 vaccination clinics

NEXT PHASE: Phase 1b, Tier 2

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
Correctional facilities and Detention Centers
Law Enforcement/Public Safety
All staff working in K-12 education facilities
All staff working in child care facilities
All staff working in grocery stores

LATER PHASES

Phase 1b, Tier 3

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
Staff working in Courts and individuals providing legal services
Individuals working in health, human services and/or social services outreach programs
Frontline employees of public (mass) transit
Individuals employed in manufacturing
Individuals working in food packaging and distribution
Employees in US Postal Service

Phase 1c, Tier 1

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
DC residents age 16-64 years and older with a chronic medical condition
Staff working in food service
Essential employees in local government agencies
Essential employees of public utilities
Essential employees in non-governmental health, human, and social services organizations/agencies
Individuals working in commercial and residential property maintenance and environmental services

Phase 1c, Tier 2

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
Individuals working in non-public transit transportation services (i.e., for-hire vehicles, ride share)
Individuals working in logistics/delivery/courier services
Essential employees working in media and mass communications

Phase 1c, Tier 3

Who qualifies?

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
All essential employees of institutes of higher education
Individuals working in construction
All essential employees working in information technology
Essential employees in federal government agencies
Individuals working in commercial and residential property management

Phase 2

Who qualifies?
The following groups qualify for phase 2:

Continue vaccinating those who qualified for previous phases
All DC residents age 16 and older not included in previous phases

For Kaiser Permanente members – Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I’m a qualified healthcare worker in Phase 1a but have not yet received the vaccine?

If you qualify to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in phase 1a but you have not yet been vaccinated and want an appointment to be vaccinated, please visit kp.org and send a secure message to your doctor’s office. Log in to kp.org, click “Message Center,” then click “Compose” and select “Doctor’s Office” to send a message explaining that you are a healthcare worker and qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1a. Within 48 hours, you will receive a secure email message acknowledging receipt of your email. As soon as the state supplies us enough vaccine to vaccinate you, you will receive another secure message from your healthcare team with a link to schedule your vaccine appointment. At this time, vaccine supplies are very limited. Please know that we are actively working with local departments of health to secure vaccine supply.

What should I do if I’m a qualified essential worker under Phase 1b, but have not yet received a vaccine?

At this time, we do not have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate essential workers who qualify in Phase 1b. Please know that we are actively working with local departments of health to secure enough vaccine supply. We are in the process of developing a process so our members who qualify as essential workers in Phase 1b can be vaccinated as soon as supply allows. If you are offered a vaccine through your employer or other vaccine provider, please accept the offer to get vaccinated.

Once I qualify to be vaccinated, how do I get an appointment to be vaccinated at Kaiser Permanente?

Because vaccine supply is limited, we will continue to vaccinate the highest risk first. The fastest way for us to contact you when you qualify for the vaccine is by sending you a secure email through kp.org. If you are a registered kp.org member, that will be the first way we contact you. If you are not registered on kp.org or if you do not open the secure message we send you through kp.org, we will call you. If we cannot reach you by kp.org or phone, we will send you a letter.

If you are not registered on kp.org, please register today so we can quickly contact you when you are eligible for the vaccine and we have supply to vaccinate you.

If my employer, local government or other vaccine provider (outside of Kaiser Permanente) offers me a COVID-19 vaccine, should I take it?

If you are offered the vaccine at another venue, please go ahead and get vaccinated. Please note: wherever you receive the first dose of the vaccine will also need to administer your second dose of the vaccine. Regardless of where you get the vaccine, you will incur no cost. If you get the vaccine outside of Kaiser Permanente, the outside provider may bill Kaiser Permanente; if they do, we will reimburse them.

If I receive my COVID-19 vaccine outside Kaiser Permanente, how do I update my medical record?

Log onto kp.org, click on the “Medical Record”, and then select the “Questionnaires” option. Then click on the questionnaire titled “COVID-19 Immunizations outside of Kaiser Permanente” and fill out all required fields.

For people not covered by Kaiser Permanente insurance:

I am not covered by Kaiser Permanente insurance, but I would like to come to a Kaiser Permanente medical center to be vaccinated. Can I?

We are partnering closely with the local county health departments to vaccinate the groups they designate from the community. Please call your local health department to learn which sites are available for you to get the vaccine.

Can I walk into a medical center to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

No. COVID-19 vaccines can only be provided by appointment.

More COVID-19 vaccination resources:

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna

What to expect after you receive your COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccine: facts and myths