Rabies warning for Front Royal
The Lord Fairfax Health District has issued a rabies warning for Front Royal.
The warning is due to the discovery of a raccoon with rabies on April 17th near the Royal Arms Apartments.
The raccoon is no longer a threat to the area but if you believe that you, your children, or a pet came in contact with that raccoon, they should call the Warren County Health Department immediately.
Any bite, scratch, or lick from an animal with rabies can lead to exposure.
The health department also issued a reminder to stay away from wild animals and keep your petâs vaccines up to date.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
CDC list all of LFHD as low COVID-19 Transmission Counties
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have listed all counties in the Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) as a low COVID-19 transmission rate area.
Under the new guidelines by the CDC of Low, Medium or High transmission rates.
Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren Counties are all listed as low in transmission of COVID-19.
Under the new CDC guidelines this means healthy people who are up to date on vaccinations do not have to wear masks.
Of course anyone is welcome to continue to use a mask if they choose especially those with compromised immune systems.
Masks are also still required on public transportation as well in some public buildings.
The rating of Low for the LFHD comes as new cases of COVID-19 have dropped by 20 percent in recent weeks.
Also the 72 percent of Virginians currently vaccinated has helped to keep the LFHD at its current Low transmission rate.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDH expands free COVID-19 testing in the LFHD
An email from Lorrie Andrew-Spear of the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Communications Office announced the expansion of COVID-19 testing.
The Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) will now have free COVID-19 testing every Wednesday in February including today Feb. 2.
The clinics will be held each Wed. at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex at 465 W. 15 Street Front Royal from 1 until 3 p.m..
Enter the clinic on the gymnasium side of the building wearing your mask and have a photo identification with you.
There is no registration required for the clinic and it is on a first come first served basis.
The clinics are for anyone 2 years of age and over.
All those under the age 18 are required to have a parent or guardian with them.
Walk ups will be accepted.
This is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test with results relayed in as few as three days.
No rapid test will be available at these clinics.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
LFHD and Dollar General partner for vaccines
The Lord Fairfax Health District is partnering with Dollar General stores around the valley to provide free COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine clinics will be held at various locations throughout the valley starting Tuesday, February 8th and continue on each Tuesday and Saturday through the rest of the month.
The Dollar General locations in rotation include Stephens City, Middletown, Toms Brook, Edinburg, and Shenandoah.
Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be available for anyone over 18 and Pfizer for 5 and up.
Boosters will be given to those eligible and please bring your previous vaccination card.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDH offers free COVID-19 vaccinations in Shenandoah VA. tomorrow 1/21
The Virginia Department of Health’ s (VDH) Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) has teamed up with Dollar General Stores to offer COVID-19 vaccinations.
A VDH email announced that the Dollar General Store in Shenandoah Virginia will offer a vaccination clinic tomorrow Jan. 21.
The clinic will offer vaccinations at the 727 4 Street Shenandoah Virginia location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
The clinic will offer first, second, primary and booster doses of the vaccines.
All three of the vaccines will be available at the clinic.
Anyone 5 and older is eligible for certain vaccines.
Everyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to be vaccinated.
Walk ups are welcomed but appointments can also be made at vase.vdh.virginia.gov.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
LFHD offering Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Covid-19 Vaccines
(Winchester, Va.) â Beginning immediately, the Virginia Department of Healthâs Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) will offer vaccine boosters for the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) below. The booster vaccine can be obtained anytime after 6 months from the date of second Pfizer vaccine. Please note that only those who have received two shots of Pfizer vaccine and meet the following criteria are eligible:
- people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series
- people aged 50â64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series
- people aged 18â49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks
- people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizerprimary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) encourages all eligible persons to get their COVID-19 vaccine if they havenât already done so. To find a vaccination site near you, visitvase.vdh.virginia.gov or visitwww.vaccines.gov.
âThe COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness may decrease slowly after six months, but people still have strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” said Dr. Colin Greene, director of LFHD. âThe CDC recommends that the booster dose be given six months or more after the second shot, but individuals who have not yet received a booster will still be considered fully vaccinated.â
LFHD will offer COVID-19 boosters on a walk-in basis at all five local health department clinics. Look for the sign outside the clinic.
Again, those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are not authorized for booster doses at this time. We expect additional recommendations regarding these vaccines in the coming weeks.
If you are coming for your booster dose, wear a mask and please bring your vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine you received for your second dose. We recommend you wait at the clinic site for 15 minutes after receiving the booster dose.
For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia, visit vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus. Find convenient, free vaccination locations near you by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1).
VDH hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Luray tomorrow 9/8
The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) is hosting a free COVID-19 vaccination Clinic at the Luray Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall tomorrow Sept. 8.
The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 218 Veterans Lane Luray.
A person vaccinated is still less likely to have the long term symptoms that can drag on for weeks or even months and less likely to be hospitalized says LFHD director Dr. Colin Greene.
The clinic tomorrow is for the Pfizer vaccine which is for anyone 12 and over.
No appointments are necessary walk ups are welcome children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
For a vaccination clinics closer to your home visit vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829.
There is no charge for the vaccination however if you have insurance you are asked to bring your card.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
LFHD and CDC advise masking up especially in certain counties
Dr. Colin Greene said that COVID-19 cases have quadrupled in Virginia and possibly tripled in his Lord Fairfax Health District.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website currently shows the risk of transmission is listed as moderate in Shenandoah County and high in Page County.
Gov. Northam’s team is reviewing the latest data with recommendations expected soon.
The CDC currently recommends masking up indoors no matter what your vaccination status is.
That is currently the best protection against COVID-19 at this time.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
LFHD reports rabies encounters
The Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) reports two separate encounters with pets and wild animals with rabies.
The first occurred in the 2800 block of Middle Road Winchester with another in the McDonald Farm Road area in Linden.
The two encounters occurred in late May and early June.
The animals, a raccoon and fox, no longer pose a threat but both cases serve as reminders to not approach stray dogs wild animals or feral cats.
Especially if the animals are acting strangely or nocturnal animals are out in the day.
Saliva from any unfamiliar animal could pose a threat.
Any contact by a person or domestic animal needs to be reported immediately along with immediate medical evaluation.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDH has 3 walk in vaccination clinics available today Apr. 29
Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) is seeing a decline in vaccination numbers.
Even with 600 appointments available only about 200 people are coming through the doors.
There are 3 walk in clinics being offered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) today Apr. 29.
First at Shenandoah University’s James R. Wilkins Jr. Athletics and Events Center from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m..
The second is at the Warren County Human Service’s Building Gymnasium from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m..
Both those clinics feature the Pfizer vaccine.
A drive thru clinic is being held at Shenandoah Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m..
That clinic has the Moderna vaccine.
Those needing their second Moderna vaccination can do so at the fairgrounds if you have your vaccination card.
No appointments are required for any of these clinics today.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.